IOL reports that a 49-year-old man is expected to appear in the Potchefstroom Magistrate’s Court on Friday after he was found in possession of illicit cigarettes worth R7.8 million.

The cigarettes were being transported in a gas tanker truck. According to the North West spokesperson for the Hawks, Captain Tlangelani Rikhotso, the suspect was arrested on Wednesday in Potchefstroom. “A total of 482 master cases containing 50 cartons of illicit Chelsea cigarettes were discovered. Additionally, in a separate compartment, 109 master cases containing 25 cartons were also found. All the cigarettes and the gas tanker truck were seized for further investigation,” Rikhotso advised. The suspect faces charges of possession of illicit cigarettes and contravention of the Customs and Excise Act of 1964. Acting on a tip-off on Monday, law enforcement teams impounded a truck carrying 1,000 master cases of illicit cigarettes with a tax value of R20m in Bronkhorstspruit. SA Revenue Service (Sars) Commissioner Edward Kieswetter said that the illicit cigarettes had been imported through Beitbridge where they were falsely declared as tea leaves. The truck was carrying 1,000 master cases of illicit cigarettes valued at a tax prejudice of R20m. On being approached, the driver fled the scene and the truck and its consignment were seized.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Robin-Lee Francke at IOL
• Lees ook, Miljoene se onwettige sigarette in gastrok versteek, by Maroela Media

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