Sundaymail Editor
Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge Bureau
LAW enforcement agents last week recovered a contraband of cigarettes worth R3,4 million that was being smuggled into South Africa via the Limpopo River.
The suspected smugglers escaped, leaving the contraband, after being cornered by a security forces team on border patrol.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident that occurred on Tuesday at about 6pm around the Lamidzi area near Tshabili village.
He said the contraband was intercepted by a joint team from the police and Zimbabwe National Army deployed under an operation dubbed “No to Cross Border Crimes”.
“The patrol team managed to recover 40 boxes of Remington Gold Blue cigarettes worth R3 450 500. The recovered contraband has since been taken to Beitbridge Urban Police Station for further management,” he said.
The smuggling of cigarettes from Zimbabwe into South Africa through illegal crossing points along the Limpopo River has been on the increase in recent months, prompting security from both countries to intensify anti-smuggling initiatives.
Online Reporter