Two foreign nationals held with illicit cigarettes worth more than million rand
POTCHEFSTROOM – Potchefstroom Crime Intelligence, Potchefstroom Flying Squad, and Ventersdorp Visible Policing apprehended two Zimbabwean nationals for possession of illicit cigarettes during a Crime Intelligence led operation on Friday, 22 November 2024.
According to the reports, Ventersdorp Visible Policing received information about suspicious Volvo truck that was traveling from Rustenburg to Gauteng Province. A follow-up was made, and the truck was spotted and stopped along the R30 road for a search.
During the search, the police discovered 124 boxes containing 50 cartons of Remington gold cigarettes worth R1.6 million inside the truck. As a result, two suspects aged 47 and 50 were arrested after failing to account for the possession. The pair is expected to appear before the Ventersdorp Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 25 November 2024.
The Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, congratulated the units involved for working together in the fight against illicit economic activities. The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) is investigating. The public is urged to report Crime by calling the SAPS Crime Stop number 08600 10111 or the MySAPS application anonymously. Extortion-related incidents can be reported on the Extortion hotline on 080 091 1011.