Online Reporter
Online Reporter
A Zimbabwean truck driver was fined R40 000 or four years in jail last week after a South African court convicted him of smuggling 1 119 master cases of Derby cigarettes sometime in 2023.
Joseph Kusekwa (43) appeared before the Lehurutshe Regional Court charged with contravening the South African Customs and Excise Act.
Additionally, Kusekwa was also slapped with a wholly suspended 24 months behind bars on condition that he pays R20 000 and is convicted of failing to declare goods upon entering South Africa within the next five years.
It was the State’s case that on July 21, 2023, Kusekwa was driving a truck with two trailers when he was stopped and searched at Skilpadshek Port of Entry.
Kusekwa granted permission for the search, which led to the discovery of 1 119 master cases of Derby cigarettes loaded in the truck.
He then failed to produce documentation for the cigarettes. A South African Revenue Service (SARS) customs officer was called and noted that although the cigarettes complied with the Tobacco Product Control Act Regulations, they were not declared in terms of the Customs and Excise Act.
Kusekwa was arrested while the truck and cigarettes were seized by South African customs officials for failing to pay duty.
