The Sunday News
6 000 bricks of cigarettes were stashed.
OFFICERS from the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority yesterday intercepted a truck with more than
6 000 bricks of contraband cigarettes valued at about $120 000 at the Plumtree Border Post that were being smuggled into Botswana en route to South Africa.
The officers found 4 498 bricks of Dullahs cigarettes, 600 bricks of Pacific Blue cigarettes and 1 000 bricks of Derby cigarettes hidden in a secret compartment of a modified South Africa-registered truck after the vehicle had been cleared through the customs and immigration sections.
When Sunday News arrived at the border post, officers said at around 6am, the driver of the truck identified as Ellerbeck Albert Walter of South Africa, drove through the port of entry and told the officers that the vehicle pulling a caravan was destined for service and repairs in South Africa.
“He made it through customs and immigration but something about the truck was suspicious and it was then around 7am that he was referred for non-intrusive inspection (scanning) where it was discovered that the caravan contained a false compartment where the cigarettes were stashed,” said the officer, who could not be named because he is not authorised to speak to the Press.
The officer said upon questioning Walter revealed that he got the loot from Harare but could not provide any further details as he was only responsible for taking the truck for servicing.
Police were called to the scene and assisted officers at the border post with offloading the cigarettes and took Walter in for questioning. Walter could be heard on the phone talking to one Lovemore from Ruwa telling him that the police needed his details.
“The value of the cigarettes is yet to be established but we have handed the suspect over to the police,” said the officer.
Illicit trade in cigarette accounts for about 30 percent of the total South African cigarette market to date according to officials and regional customs experts. They believe in excess of R5 billion in tax revenue is lost in sub-Saharan Africa annually as the smuggling network is complex.
Meanwhile, national police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said the police have arrested four people in Nyamapanda for smuggling $70 000 worth of second-hand goods consisting of clothes, handbags and blankets.
“On 7 April at around 1am, police in Nyamapanda intercepted a DAF truck which was loaded with 140 bales of second-hand clothes weighing 6 285,5kg. Three Zimbabweans and a Mozambican national were arrested for smuggling of the goods from Mozambique. The goods were destined for Nyahuku,” she said.
Snr Asst Comm Charamba warned all those involved in smuggling that the law would take its course.
“Transport operators should desist from assisting individuals to smuggle goods into the country by evading check points at the ports of entry and exit,” she said.
