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Senior Reporter
SOUTH African police in Limpopo province have arrested a Zimbabwean for allegedly smuggling cigarettes worth R1 million into that country through Beitbridge Border Post.Police spokesperson for Vhembe District, Major Mashudu Malelo said the suspect was arrested following the interception of his car, a Toyota truck, loaded with several boxes of cigarettes along the Thohoyandou-Sibasa road.
The suspect, who was travelling alone, was allegedly transporting the contraband to Johannesburg.
“We arrested a 28-year-old Zimbabwean man following the interception of his Gauteng registered truck, which was carrying cartons of smuggled cigarettes. We suspect the cigarettes were smuggled into the country from Zimbabwe.
“We also suspect the man could be linked to a well-organised syndicate involving others, but we are still investigating,” he said.
Maj Malelo said the truck and the cigarettes were impounded and the suspect would appear in court soon.
Of late there has been an increase in the number of cigarette smuggling cases involving Zimbabweans 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 Beitbridge Border Post despite the presence of Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) scanners.
The machines are able to detect concealed goods hidden in sealed containers.
Online Reporter