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4 Zimbabweans held in SA over R2 million fake cigarettes

by Sapa
24 Apr 2012 at 15:59hrs | Views
AN OPERATION driven by South Africa's Crime Intelligence has resulted in the arrest of four people in Limpopo for allegedly smuggling illegal cigarettes from Zimbabwe into South Africa valued at R2-million.

Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mohale Ramatseba said the incident happened in Malamulele yesterday.

He said the cigarettes were hidden in the luggage compartment of a City to City bus. "The bus was stopped in a crime intelligence driven operation, Hardstick, which is conducted throughout the province," said Ramatseba.

He said the bus was stopped along the Malamulele-Mavambe road destined for Malamulele.

The cigarettes were allegedly on their way to Gauteng. Ramatseba said the arrested people were two women aged 38 and 40 from Zimbabwe, a 38-year-old man, also from Zimbabwe, and a 52-year-old bus driver.

He said the bus had been confiscated for further police investigations.

"Patrols throughout the province have been intensified and all major roads are constantly monitored. Criminals are warned that the transportation of any smuggled or stolen items in Limpopo will be met with alert police officers through crime intelligence-driven monitoring," he said.

The arrested people will appear in the Malamulele Magistrate's Court today.

Police investigations are continuing.

Source - Sapa