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Beitbridge Bureau

South African authorities have intercepted another truck travelling from Zimbabwe with smuggled cigarettes worth R1 million.

Four people aged between 24 and 51 years, among them, three undocumented migrants and the Zimbabwean truck driver, were arrested in connection with the matter.

The Volvo truck was intercepted early Monday morning in Polokwane following a tip-off and is alleged to have passed through the Beitbridge border post with the cigarettes concealed under scrap metal.

Limpopo police spokesperson, Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo confirmed the case but could not give further details.

“We are still working on the case, will issue a statement at a later stage,” he said.

However, sources in the neighbouring country said the truck was stopped at the intersection of the R71 and N1 highways near Polokwane.

The vehicle was carrying 1 000 kilograms of scrap metal loaded in several bags.

“The truck was taken to Polokwane SAPS for searching leading to the discovery of 300 boxes of cigarettes with an estimated street value of one million rands hidden inside scrap cans.

Four suspects including a woman were arrested. Three of them were undocumented while the driver was in possession of a Zimbabwean passport,” said one official.

According to the source, the quartet will soon appear at the Polokwane Magistrate Court charged for dealing in illicit cigarettes and contravention of the Immigration Act.

The contraband and the truck have since been handed over to South Africa’s Revenue Authority for further management.

The smuggling of cigarettes between South Africa and Zimbabwe is rife because of high duties levied by South Africa on all cigarette imports from Zimbabwe.

It is understood that cigars, cheroots, cigarillos and cigarettes imported into that country are charged at a rate of R6,21 per 10 cigarettes. Most illicit cigarettes found in the neighbouring country are Zimbabwean brands. South Africa’s tax watchdog, the Tax Justice South Africa (TJSA) wants tobacco companies in the neighbouring country to sign up to its new charter to end illegal dealings and smuggling of cigarettes.

The organisation says the rampant illicit cigarette trade is robbing Pretoria of billions of rand.

TJSA founder, Mr Yusuf Abramjee said they had come up with a five-point action plan to tackle one of the world’s biggest black markets.

“Our research shows that criminal manufacturers are flooding shops across South Africa with illicit cigarettes which last year alone, deprived Treasury of R19 billion in excise duty,” he said.

“These industrial-scale looters are public enemy number one and it should be a national priority to bring them to justice.

“We need an official inquiry into the whole industry and the immediate enforcement of regulations already at the disposal of SARS (South African Revenue Service).”