By Rex Mphisa
IN what has almost become a daily occurence in the Limpopo Province bordering Zimbabwe, South Africa Police Service (SAPS) has arrested yet another person in possession of Zimbabwean made cigarettes worth R90 000 ($5 140).
The person, 27, an SA national, was apprehended by the Limpopo Tracking Team in a high speed car chase just outside Polokwane on the N1 highway leading from Zimbabwe.
“On Monday September 1, 2025 the tracking team received intelligence information about a vehicle that was transporting illicit cigarettes from Beitbridge into the province .The said vehicle was driving on N1, and the team kept an observation on the N1 north. The vehicle matching the description was spotted and as a result an attempt to stop it, yielded no results as the driver sped off,” said a press release from SAPS.
The members gave chase, and the vehicle was pulled over on R71 near Dalmada, outside Polokwane, SAPS said.
The vehicle, a Hyundai ix35 was transporting 15 master cases of Remington gold illicit cigarettes with a street value of R90 000,00. A 27 years old south African driver was arrested.
“He will be charged with the following dealing in illicit cigarettes, reckless and negligent driving. The said Hyundai was also seized and will be forfeited to the state in terms of prevention of organised crimes act,” SAPS said in the statement signed by Colonel Malesela Ledwaba.
Zimbabwean made cigarettes are some of the most sought-after in SA whose laws are strict to protect their local market.
Pretoria says Zimbabwean cigarettes inflict economic damage on South Africa primarily through lost tax revenue from the smuggling of untaxed products, which depresses the country’s GDP and employment.
This illicit trade is also believed contributary to the growth of organised crime, undermines legitimate businesses, and challenges the state’s ability to enforce its own tobacco control policies and revenue collection efforts.