SANDF soldiers among suspects arrested for cigarette smuggling in Limpopo

Five members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) have been arrested alongside two undocumented Zimbabwean nationals for allegedly conspiring to steal a consignment of illicit cigarettes near the Limpopo River.

Provincial police spokesperson in Limpopo, Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba, said the suspects, aged between 26 and 42, were nabbed on Tuesday during a joint operation by the SAPS Limpopo Beitbridge task team and military intelligence.

The seven arrested suspects are expected to appear before the Musina Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, facing charges of corruption, possession of illicit cigarettes, unlawful discharge of a firearm, and defeating the ends of justice.

Police said the arrests followed an incident in Artonvilla, along Malaladrift road, where the group allegedly conspired to intercept and steal cigarettes being smuggled into South Africa.

During the operation, shots were reportedly fired, forcing the alleged smugglers to abandon 24 boxes of illicit cigarettes. Six boxes were later discovered hidden inside a temporary military camp.

Limpopo police commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, commended the swift action of the law enforcement teams.

“Corruption involving members entrusted with national security will not be tolerated,” said Hadebe.

Early this year, IOL reported that police in Limpopo arrested a 44-year-old foreign national in the fight against cross-border smuggling, seizing illicit cigarettes worth over R14 million at the Beitbridge port of entry.

At the time, Mashaba said the suspect, driving a white truck with a tanker trailer, claimed the vehicle was empty. But police, unconvinced by his story, directed the truck to the commercial ramp zone for inspection.

"During the search, police discovered that it was fully loaded with illicit cigarettes of Remington Gold brand, and the suspect failed to provide a satisfactory explanation regarding the origin of the cigarettes, and he was immediately placed under arrest on the spot," said Mashaba.

"During the arrest, police confiscated 710 boxes of Remington Gold illicit cigarettes with an estimated street value of R14,449,363 and a truck tanker valued at R2,500,000."

Cape Times