News / National
Zimbabwean man fined R1.5 million for smuggling cigarettes to SA
28 May 2025 at 10:37hrs | Views
A 52-year-old Zimbabwean, Desperate Chinomona, has been ordered by the Giyani Specialised Commercial Crime Court to pay a fine of R1.5 million for smuggling illicit cigarettes from Zimbabwe into South Africa. Should he fail to pay the fine, Chinomona faces an effective five-year jail term.
Chinomona was arrested in April while driving a commercial Volvo truck through the Beitbridge border post, carrying 343 boxes and 82 bricks of contraband cigarettes valued at over R11.5 million, including levies and penalties.
Warrant Lethunya Mmuroa, spokesperson for the Hawks in Limpopo province, said that the truck, along with the tobacco products, were forfeited to the State as part of the sentence.
"On the day in question, a Physical Inspector from the South African Revenue Service (SARS) at the Beitbridge Port of Entry stopped the truck carrying two trailers and containers," said Mmuroa.
"Upon inspection, it was discovered that the containers had unequal lengths inside and outside. Police assistance was called, leading to a thorough search which uncovered illegal self-made compartments inside the containers. These compartments concealed 343 master boxes and 82 loose cartons of illicit Remington Gold cigarettes valued at R11,591,038."
Chinomona was arrested and charged with smuggling illicit cigarettes. The case was initially heard at Musina Magistrates' Court before being transferred to the Giyani Specialised Commercial Crime Court, where he was convicted and sentenced.
"The recovered illicit cigarettes, the Volvo truck, trailers, and containers used in the commission of the crime were forfeited to the State," added Mmuroa. "Additionally, Chinomona was declared unfit to possess a firearm."
The smuggling of cigarettes across the Zimbabwe-South Africa border remains a persistent challenge for security officials, who regularly conduct joint patrols to combat this illegal trade.
Chinomona was arrested in April while driving a commercial Volvo truck through the Beitbridge border post, carrying 343 boxes and 82 bricks of contraband cigarettes valued at over R11.5 million, including levies and penalties.
Warrant Lethunya Mmuroa, spokesperson for the Hawks in Limpopo province, said that the truck, along with the tobacco products, were forfeited to the State as part of the sentence.
"On the day in question, a Physical Inspector from the South African Revenue Service (SARS) at the Beitbridge Port of Entry stopped the truck carrying two trailers and containers," said Mmuroa.
"Upon inspection, it was discovered that the containers had unequal lengths inside and outside. Police assistance was called, leading to a thorough search which uncovered illegal self-made compartments inside the containers. These compartments concealed 343 master boxes and 82 loose cartons of illicit Remington Gold cigarettes valued at R11,591,038."
Chinomona was arrested and charged with smuggling illicit cigarettes. The case was initially heard at Musina Magistrates' Court before being transferred to the Giyani Specialised Commercial Crime Court, where he was convicted and sentenced.
"The recovered illicit cigarettes, the Volvo truck, trailers, and containers used in the commission of the crime were forfeited to the State," added Mmuroa. "Additionally, Chinomona was declared unfit to possess a firearm."
The smuggling of cigarettes across the Zimbabwe-South Africa border remains a persistent challenge for security officials, who regularly conduct joint patrols to combat this illegal trade.
Source - the chronicle
