Limpopo police have recovered over R2m worth of illegal cigarettes during an operation conducted across the province this week.
Illicit cigarettes including Remington Gold, Chelsea, Royal Express and Premium worth R2.25m were confiscated and 20 arrests made in the province, police spokesperson Brig Motlafela Mojapelo said.
Mojapelo said in Mphephu three foreign nationals aged between 36 and 39 were arrested and illicit cigarettes worth about R700,000 were recovered.
In Lephalale, two suspects aged 26 and 30 were arrested after their blue Ford Fiesta was stopped and searched along the R518. A full load of cigarettes was found.
Other arrests were made in Musina, Modimolle, Tshilwavhusikhu, Mphephu, Makhado and Tuinplaas during patrols and roadblocks.
Police recover illegal cigarettes worth over R2m in Limpopo
Image: Saps
Limpopo police have recovered over R2m worth of illegal cigarettes during an operation conducted across the province this week.
Illicit cigarettes including Remington Gold, Chelsea, Royal Express and Premium worth R2.25m were confiscated and 20 arrests made in the province, police spokesperson Brig Motlafela Mojapelo said.
Mojapelo said in Mphephu three foreign nationals aged between 36 and 39 were arrested and illicit cigarettes worth about R700,000 were recovered.
In Lephalale, two suspects aged 26 and 30 were arrested after their blue Ford Fiesta was stopped and searched along the R518. A full load of cigarettes was found.
Other arrests were made in Musina, Modimolle, Tshilwavhusikhu, Mphephu, Makhado and Tuinplaas during patrols and roadblocks.
South Africans have been unable to purchase cigarettes since the start of the nationwide lockdown on March 26 2020. The restaurant business has been severely affected by the lockdown and some of those in the industry who are now jobless have resorted to trading illicit cigarettes as a means of survival.
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