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Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge Bureau
A 45-year-old Zimbabwean was on Tuesday jailed for an effective seven years by a South African court for possession and illegal transporting of smuggled cigarettes.
Sidalokuhle Ncube was arrested on June 30 in Mankweng, Limpopo, while driving a Toyota Corolla loaded with contraband that was destined for Gauteng Province.
When the vehicle was searched, 85 cartons of cigarettes were recovered.
Limpopo police spokesperson, Colonel Malasela Ledwaba confirmed the development.
“He was convicted and sentenced for contravening the South African Revenue Service Act, Income Tax Act, Value Added Tax Act, and Customs and Excise Act at the Polokwane Regional Court,” he said.
“He was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for possession of illicit cigarettes and two years for contravening the Immigration Act.”
The smuggling of cigarettes from Zimbabwe into South Africa through illegal crossing points along the Limpopo River is rife.
It is estimated that 30 percent of cigarettes in South Africa are smuggled from Zimbabwe.
A box of cigarettes costs US$120 locally and is sold for between US$250 and US$300 to the syndicates who then smuggle them into South Africa where they can resell them for anything above R15 000 per box (US$840)
Those who illegally transport the contraband across borders are paid between R100 and R300 per box and in most cases, this is done under the cover of darkness.
Online Reporter