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Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau

Security agents at Beitbridge Border Post on Thursday intercepted a South African truck that was being used to smuggle 50 boxes of cigarettes worth thousands of dollars.

The cigarettes were found hidden in a consignment of copper cat-hood that was being transported from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to South Africa at around 2am.

Security sources at the border said the South African registered horse JF50RVB-GP towing a CJ83WD-GP trailer was being driven by Valentine Chitauro of Kuwadzana, Harare, who is now assisting the police with investigations.

“The cigarettes were intercepted during routine searches. The consignment owner had only declared copper cat-hood on customs documents,” said a border security official who preferred anonymity.

“The truck and the boxes of cigarettes have been seized pending further investigations into the matter. We are tightening security to curb all leakages at the border.”

The smuggling of cigarettes from Zimbabwe into South Africa through illegal crossing points along the Limpopo River is rife.

It is estimated that 30 percent of cigarettes in South Africa are from Zimbabwe.

Security teams at the border have been cracking down on smuggling syndicates, which has seen several arrests being made.