By Takudziridzwa Nyama
A 44 year old foreign national was arrested at the Beitbridge Port of Entry yesterday for attempting to smuggle illicit cigarettes worth R2,139,000 into South Africa.
He is scheduled to appear before the Musina Magistrate’s Court on March 24, 2025.
The arrest occurred during a routine search of trucks at the South Gate, where police stopped a freight liner truck with a Gauteng registration.
The driver presented a manifest indicating that the truck was empty. However, a thorough search revealed that the truck was laden with pallets and several boxes positioned in front of the pallets.
The vehicle was subsequently taken to the commercial ramp where it was opened, revealing it was loaded with 460 boxes. Each box, when opened, contained 100 cartoons of Remington Gold cigarettes.
The suspect was detained at SAPS Musina and charged with smuggling illicit cigarettes.
Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe commended the officers involved in the operation, reiterating the South African Police Service’s commitment to combating cross-border criminal activities.