adminBrown Jackson Powder of Lilongwe in Malawi and employed as a truck driver by Chita-One Trucking Company, was convicted on his own plea of guilty to contravening a section of the Customs and Excise Act (smuggling) by Beitbridge resident magistrate Miss Gloria Takundwa.
The cigarettes were forfeited to the State as part of the sentence.
The prosecutor, Mr Jabulani Mberesi, said on 8 March, Powder arrived at Beitbridge Border Post intending to cross into South Africa.
He was driving a Malawian registered truck, which was towing a trailer carrying an undisclosed consignment, which he was taking to South Africa.
The court heard that while the customs clearance documents were being processed, Powder went to a local truck port where he loaded 133 boxes of Bradford cigarettes, which he intended to smuggle into the neighbouring country.
Acting on a tip-off, detectives from the Border
Control Unit pounced on him and searched the truck leading to the discovery of the contraband.
Powder was asked to produce a receipt to prove that he had paid customs duty and he failed to do so leading to his arrest.
The State stood to lose revenue of US$12 200 in customs duty.
Online Reporter