Zim man’s R1,6 mln cigarettes deal goes wrong in SA

A 37-year-old Zimbabwean man believed to be part of a cigarette smuggling racket has been arrested in Musina with a contraband worth R1,6 million rand.

The man was also found in possession of a stolen vehicle which he was using to transport his loot.

South Africa’s organised crime police (Hawks) spokesperson Captain Matimba Maluleke said the man was arrested at his “warehouse” in Musina on Monday where he was loading six cars with the cigarettes

“The police team comprising the Hawks, Crime Intelligence, Polokwane Tactical Response Team and SAPS Musina Visible Policing members received intelligence about the vehicles that were loading illicit cigarettes at a warehouse in Musina CBD on Thursday, 20 May 2021 and followed it up”.

He said upon arrival at the “warehouse”, they found a trailer and six other vehicles fully loaded with illicit cigarettes valued at R1,6 million.

-HERALD