By Ziyah News Court Reporter
Two Zimbabwean nationals, aged 20 and 47, are scheduled to appear in the Musina Magistrate Court today following their arrest for smuggling over R1 million worth of illicit cigarettes.
The suspects were arrested on Friday, October 4, 2024, during a targeted operation aimed at dismantling cross-border smuggling activities.
The operation was launched after police received credible information about a group of approximately 70 individuals transporting boxes of illicit cigarettes near Musina Golf Club.
When police arrived on the scene, the group attempted to flee, abandoning their cargo of illegal goods and scattering into the nearby hills.
Although many managed to escape, authorities successfully apprehended two suspects. They now face charges related to the Customs and Excise Act, the Import and Export Control Act, and Illegal Immigration.
The operation yielded significant results, with police recovering two boxes valued at R18,000, along with an impressive haul of 226 boxes of illicit cigarettes, bringing the total estimated value of the confiscated items to over R1 million. These abandoned items were located in the bush near the initial arrest site.
Major General Samuel Manala, the Acting Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, praised the officers for their swift and decisive actions. He reaffirmed the police’s commitment to combating cross-border crimes and dismantling the syndicates involved in the illegal cigarette trade throughout the province.
Authorities continue to investigate the matter, aiming to hold all those involved in the smuggling operation accountable and to strengthen the region’s safeguards against such criminal activities.