The Sunday News
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
SOUTH Africa’s security authorities have intercepted a consignment of cigarettes worth more than R3 million that was being smuggled in a bus travelling from Zimbabwe on Friday morning.
The bus which is among the several others which are cleared by the Government to transport returnees from South Africa was busted as it entered the neighbouring country. Currently, the movement of cross-border buses (public transport) is banned across the country’s land borders except for the few cleared to carry returnees to Zimbabwe or in transit to Malawi and Zambia.
Limpopo police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said yesterday they had arrested two people in connection with the matter. He said the duo was picked up at the Beitbridge border post following a tip-off.
“We are not relenting on our quest to minimise criminal activities along the border and the entire province. With regards to the latest incident, our officers reacted to a tip-off about a bus that was travelling from Zimbabwe, with a trailer carrying illicit cigarettes in the vicinity of Beitbridge. The bus was spotted and routinely directed to the searching bay.”
He said, the border police working together with customs officials searched the trailer and found 239 boxes of Remington Gold cigarettes and 35 cartons worth over R3 million. Brig Mojapelo said the two suspects who are both foreigners were immediately arrested, while one of their accomplices managed to evade arrest.
“The suspects will appear in court on Monday charged for possession of illicit cigarettes,” he said.
The development comes a few weeks after the National Security Task Force has recovered contraband of cigarettes worth R3,4 million that was being smuggled into South Africa via the Limpopo River at Lamidzi area near Tshabili Village.
It is understood that 30 percent of cigarettes in South Africa are from Zimbabwe including Pacific, Remington Gold, Mega, Dullahs, Branson, and Servilles. More than 70 people have been arrested leading to the recovery of cigarettes worth millions of rand. Those that illegally transport the commodity across borders are paid between R100 and R300 per box and in most cases, this is done under the cover of darkness. Sources said syndicates, upon receiving the contrabands in the neighbouring country rebrand and export it illegally to the international market. — @tupeyo
