adminMashudu Netsianda Senior Court Reporter
THREE Zimbabweans and a South African who were recently arrested in South Africa’s Limpopo province for allegedly smuggling cigarettes worth $200,000 into the neighbouring country, have appeared in court. The Zimbabwean trio — Takuzo Mutswiro, 22, Tatenda Nyamhunga, 31, Joseph Mhembwe, 27 and Gilbert Mamburu, 54, a South African from Tshiozwi village in Limpopo province, were arrested last month at Tshilwavhusiku near Thohoyandou after police intercepted a truck they were using to transport the cigarettes.
They appeared at Tshilwavhusiku Magistrates’ court on Wednesday and the three Zimbabweans were remanded in custody to May 4.
Mamburu was released on R10,000 bail.
On March 15, police were tipped that there were suspicious activities taking place at Mamburu’s house. On arrival at the scene, the three Zimbabweans attempted to escape, but the police officers managed to apprehend them.
Cigarettes with an estimated value of more than R2 million hidden in a small truck as well as a light delivery truck were discovered.
The three appeared in court less than a fortnight after another Zimbabwean man was also arrested in South Africa’s North West province for smuggling cigarettes worth an estimated R7,3 million.
Cleophas Meso, 42, appeared at Zeerust Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday and was remanded out of custody to June 12 on R20,000 bail. Meso was arrested on April 12, at the Kopfontein border post near Botswana.
It is alleged that his truck was crossing the border from Botswana to South Africa when police became suspicious and intercepted it. They asked Meso to pull over before unhooking the trailer. Police officers found a false compartment underneath the trailer and recovered 519 Chelsea master cases and 1,732 packets of cigarettes hidden inside.
Lately there has been an increase in the number of cigarette smugglers being arrested in the neighbouring country. Some of the cigarettes are smuggled out of the country through undesignated entry points along the crocodile-infested Limpopo River while others find their way into South Africa through the Beitbridge Border Post despite the presence of Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) scanners.
The machines are able to detect concealed goods hidden in sealed containers. The South African Revenue Services reportedly charges high rates on cigarette imports, which has resulted in a marked increase in cases of smuggling between Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Most of these cigarettes are repackaged when they get to South Africa before being shipped to either Europe or Asia.
According to the South African Revenue Services (SARS), Beitbridge Border Post accounts for 70 percent of the cigarettes which are smuggled into that country.
A recent statement from the South African Police Service said cigarette smuggling from Zimbabwe was being prioritised after it emerged the country supplied 55 to 70 percent of the 10 billion cigarettes reaching the neighbouring country’s black market annually.
Online Reporter