Police in Limpopo Province, South Africa, have arrested two foreign nationals, aged 25 and 31, for possessing illicit Remington Gold cigarettes valued at around R1 million.
Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba confirmed that the arrests occurred on Monday. Said Ledwaba:
<blockquote>
Information was reportedly received regarding a white truck with Gauteng province registration, suspected of smuggling cigarettes from Zimbabwe to Gauteng via Northam.
In response, a joint operation was launched, involving Northam SAPS, Koedoeskop Rural Safety, and private security.
</blockquote>
The team identified the truck and made a tactical stop to search it. Said Ledwaba:
<blockquote>
A hidden compartment was found in the trailer, with a false panel concealing 170 boxes of illicit Remington Gold cigarettes with an estimated street value of R1.1 million.
The two foreign national male suspects were immediately arrested. They are expected to appear before Northam Magistrate’s Court soon, facing charges of possessing illicit cigarettes.
</blockquote>
Police said the cigarettes, the truck, and its trailer were impounded.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

Two men from Zimbabwe were caught in South Africa with illegal cigarettes worth R1 million. They were in a truck smuggling the cigarettes. The police found hidden compartments in the trailer with lots of illegal cigarettes. The two men were arrested and will go to court. The police took the cigarettes, truck, and trailer. The arrests happened after a joint operation by the police and security. The men are in trouble for having illegal cigarettes.

Two Zimbabweans Arrested With Large Shipment Of Illicit Cigarettes In South Africa

A 27-year-old Zimbabwean man named Moses Matembudze has been sentenced to four years in jail in South Africa for possessing illegal cigarettes worth R30 million. He was also found guilty of contravening the Immigration Act. Matembudze was arrested by the Hawks, a specialized police unit, in February of the previous year, the <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/zim-man-jailed-for-4-years-over-cigarettes-deals-in-sa/">Chronicle</a> reported.
The arrest and subsequent conviction were confirmed by Hawks spokesperson Lt Col Matimba Maluleke. Matembudze was caught with 48 master cases of Remington Gold cigarettes valued at R480,000. Further investigation led to the discovery of additional boxes of illicit cigarettes worth over R30 million on another nearby farm, resulting in the arrest of more suspects.
The smuggling of cigarettes into South Africa has increased since the country implemented a ban on cigarette sales in 2020 as a measure to control the spread of COVID-19. Smugglers often buy cigarettes from Zimbabwe and avoid paying taxes by selling them on the parallel market. According to <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/4/6/merchantingthe-code-word-for-the-gold-mafias-plunder">Al Jazeera</a>, one prominent figure involved in such activities is <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Simon_Rudland/">Simon Rudland</a>, a Zimbabwean millionaire who owns a major tobacco company called Gold Leaf Tobacco which owns Remington Gold cigarettes. South African revenue officials have accused Rudland of evading taxes by selling his cigarettes on the black market.
RG reportedly became SA’s largest-selling cigarette brand during the COVID-19 lockdowns raising suspicion of underhand dealings. Gold Leaf says it could not be held responsible for cigarettes legitimately bought in Zimbabwe and smuggled across the border.
While the individuals implicated in these activities, including Simon Rudland, deny their involvement and dismiss the allegations as a smear campaign, investigations are ongoing, and authorities are taking action. Banks have severed ties with the implicated individuals and are cooperating with investigations. Rudland threatened to take legal action against Al Jazeera.
<h3><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h3>

South Africa: Zimbabwean Man Jailed For R30 Million Illegal Cigarette Possession, Immigration Violation

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has confirmed the arrest of a 28-year-old man for smuggling cigarettes using a gas tanker truck.
In a statement issued this Tuesday, 21 November, ZRP spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said that the suspect Hillary Makopa, was arrested on Saturday at Beitbridge Border Post. Read the statement:
<blockquote>
ARREST OF A SUSPECT FOR SMUGGLING CIGARETTES AT BEITBRIDGE BORDER POST
The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms the arrest of Hillary Makopa (28) for smuggling cigarettes using a gas tanker truck on 18th November 2023 at Beitbridge Border Post.
The suspect was driving the truck which was scanned at the export point and indicated that the tanker, which had been declared empty, was actually loaded with boxes of cigarettes.
The contraband comprising, 585 (50 x 10x 20) boxes and 256 (25 x 10x 20) of Remington Gold cigarettes was recovered from the tanker on 19th November 2023.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police has intensified operations targeting syndicates involved in cross-border crimes at all ports of entry and exit in the country.
The Police therefore categorically state that cigarette smuggling syndicates will be arrested without fear or favour.
We warn bus operators, truck drivers, omalayitsha, clearing agents or any other person who initiates acts of smuggling that they are equally liable and will be arrested.
The public is encouraged to report all incidents of smuggling to ZRP National Complaints Desk on 0242 703631 or WhatsApp on 0712800197 or any nearest Police Station, for swift action to be taken by authorities.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/2023/11/18/president-mnangagwa-reverses-the-appointment-of-general-valerio-sibanda-to-zanu-pf-politburo/">Pindula News</a>

Police Intercept Gas Tanker Truck Loaded With Smuggled Cigarettes

The Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) says it is fully behind the Government’s policy to destroy all illicit goods especially cigarettes on the spot.
The Minister of Finance and Investment Promotion Mthuli Ncube recently said that the Government was introducing Anti-Illicit Trade Policy Measures to curb the illicit trade in cigarettes.
Organised crime syndicates allegedly comprising prominent politicians and business moguls have been linked to the smuggling of cigarettes into South Africa and Zimbabwe.
The illicit trade not only costs the two countries a significant amount of money but is also now viewed as a threat to national security because dealers fund criminal gangs that engage in lawless activities.
ZNCC chief executive officer Christopher Mugaga told <a href="https://businesstimes.co.zw/zncc-pushes-govt-to-destroy-illicit-goods/">Business Times</a> that the destruction of illicit products will ensure that they will not find their way back into the market. Said Mugaga:
<blockquote>
Regarding the destruction policy, we fully support and urge the Ministry of Finance and Investment Promotion to follow through with its promise to draft and issue a Destruction Policy for illicit goods.
The conclusion of this policy is essential in enabling the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority [ZIMRA] to destroy all confiscated illicit cigarettes, thus ensuring illicit goods do not find their way back into the market.
In working towards achieving these very important milestones to curb illicit cigarette trading, we are committed to assisting further by inviting experts on production counters and associated supply chain verification systems, to help marry the current ZIMRA audit process with the new complexity of monitoring and auditing of production counters.
</blockquote>
In its submissions to the Finance Minister, the ZNCC suggested several measures that can be put in place to combat the illegal cigarette trade. It said:
<blockquote>
The current system can be enhanced further by making it mandatory for all cigarette manufacturers to install cameras and close-circuit televisions at all production lines, which will provide real-time information on production volumes to the ZIMRA.
In addition to the above measures, we propose that ZIMRA should analyse the operational data of each manufacturer to fully understand and benchmark the costs of production in the industry.
Furthermore, the Revenue Authority should monitor the recommended selling prices of each brand for the purposes of calculating the ad valorem excise component.
</blockquote>
On 12 June 2023, the Customs Division of the South African Revenue Service (SARS) <a href="https://www.sars.gov.za/latest-news/media-release-destruction-of-smuggled-and-illicit-cigarettes-valued-at-r43-million/">said he had begun to destroy illicit and smuggled cigarettes</a>, valued at R43 million, at the Beitbridge border post.
The SARS Deputy Commissioner, Johnstone Makhubu, said a huge volume of cigarettes was set to be destroyed, in total 2000 master cases, or 20 million cigarettes.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZNCC Urges Govt To Destroy Illicit Goods

The South African Police Service (SAPS) on Thursday seized five vehicles and cigarettes worth more than R400 000 and arrested 11 of the suspected Zimbabwean smugglers.
The smuggling convoys had 10 vehicles in total and five of the vehicles escaped.
Following a high-speed car chase with the help of a farm watch, SAPS officers nabbed seized five vehicles and arrested 11 suspects.
Limpopo police spokesperson, Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo confirmed the arrests. He said:
<blockquote>
The intensification of intelligence-driven operations to prevent the smuggling of illicit cigarettes into the country led to the arrest of 11 suspects, the seizure of illicit cigarettes and five of the 10 motor vehicles that were transporting them along the Piesanghoek road in the early hours of Thursday, 9 February 2023.
Members of the Limpopo tracking team and Capricorn highway patrol operationalised information received about 10 motor vehicles which were smuggling illicit cigarettes from Zimbabwe to South Africa.
The vehicles were driven in a convoy on the N1 road from Musina in the direction of Louis Trichardt.
</blockquote>
According to Brigadier Mojapelo, the security team caught up with them along the Piesanghoek Road where they had detoured to avoid police.
When they saw the police, the Zimbabweans sped off and a high-speed chase ensued.
Five vehicles were then cornered with the help of members of the Louis Trichardt Farm Watch but the other five managed to escape. Said Brig Mojapelo:
<blockquote>
The cornered group tried to engage in a fistfight with Farm Watch members but they were ultimately subdued and apprehended. The five vehicles were found loaded with cigarettes.
</blockquote>
All 11 suspects were found to be undocumented Zimbabweans.
Brig Mojapelo said police had seized two BMWs, a Ford Territory, a Nissan Pathfinder, and an Audi A4 and 31 crate-boxes and 407 packs of cigarettes at an estimated value of R426 640.
The suspects, aged between 24 and 43, are expected to appear before a Louis Trichardt magistrate soon charged with dealing with and possession of illicit cigarettes, contravention of the Immigration Act and resisting arrest.
The drivers will also be charged with reckless and negligent driving and driving a motor vehicle without a driving licence.

SA Police Intercept 10-car Convoy Delivering Illicit Cigarettes From Zimbabwe

A 25-year-old Zimbabwean man has been sentenced to 3 years in prison or alternatively to pay R40 000 by a Polokwane Magistrate Court for smuggling cigarettes into South Africa.
Walter Madhongi was arrested by the neighbouring country’s specialised crime unit, the Hawks in October this year for smuggling 330 cartons of Remington Gold cigarettes worth R87 000 into the neighbouring country.
He was convicted on his own plea of guilty to charges of unlawfully dealing in cigarettes on Friday afternoon.
Hawks spokesperson for Limpopo, Captain Matimba Maluleke confirmed Madhongi’s arrest and the sentence. He said:
<blockquote>On October 20, the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation members received a tip-off about people who were selling illicit cigarettes at Polokwane Lodge.
The cigarettes to the value of R87 000 were seized and Madhongi was arrested.
He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to pay a fine of R40 000 or alternatively three years imprisonment.
18 months of the sentence were suspended on condition he pays a defects fine of R5 000.</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/cigarette-smuggler-slapped-with-r40-000-fine/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Chronicle</a></h4>

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