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Herald Reporter
Two Zimbabwean truck drivers were arrested on Wednesday last week in Namibia on allegations of attempting to smuggle more than 1 100 boxes of cigarettes worth over R11,3 million to South Africa.
According to media reports, the two truck drivers Lyson Malangiza (35) and Trust Marudza (46), who were driving fuel tankers with the smuggled cigarettes, appeared before Rundu Magistrates Court in Namibia on Monday charged with smuggling. The duo was arrested during the night with the two trucks which had South African registration numbers, with 1 130 boxes of cigarettes concealed in secret compartments in the trucks designed to transport liquefied natural gas.
Malangiza and Marudza faced two charges of contravening Section 14 (a) read with Section 1 and 91 of the Customs and Excise Act 20 of 1998 – non-declaration of goods upon entering Namibia – as well as contravening Section 6 (c) read with Section 1, 10 and 11 (1) of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act 29 of 2014 involving money laundering.
The case was postponed to July 8 for further police investigations and the two were denied bail due to the seriousness of their case.
They appeared before Rundu magistrate Mr Esmee Molefe while Mr Albert Titus prosecuted. The two allegedly presented to customs officials that they had transported fuel to Zimbabwe and both showed papers indicating that the tankers were empty, but a thorough search revealed the contraband.
The tankers had secret openings below them that were securely screwed and could not be easily detected.
But curious customs and police officers had to unscrew the openings and discover the cigarettes.
Online Reporter