POLOKWANE – The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has hailed the swift response by members of Vhembe District Cross Border Task team after they intercepted and seized nine million Rands worth of illicit cigarettes on Thursday morning, 28 September 2023 at approximately 04:15 at Makhado in Vhembe District.

Police were performing crime prevention duties when they spotted a suspicious white Isuzu truck with Gauteng registration numbers driving at a high speed along Tshipise and suddenly drove towards Nzhelele Dam gravel road. The members gave chase until they managed to stop the truck on the N1 road next to Mutumba river. The two occupants managed to jump from the vehicle and evaded arrest. The truck was searched and 368 master boxes of Remington Gold illicit cigarettes were found loaded into the truck and they were confiscated as well as the truck

“Our ongoing efforts to tackle the illicit trade in tobacco products within our community a
re paying off and we remain committed to addressing this issue head-on. The swift action of this team of members is also highly commendable, said Lieutenant General Hadebe.

A manhunt for the individuals involved in the distribution and sale of these illicit cigarettes is now underway. Police are determined to bring those responsible to justice.

Anyone with information about the suspects can contact Colonel Bez Bezuidenhout on 082 414 8474 or the Crime Stop hotline number on 08600 10111 or the nearest Police Station.

Police investigation continues.

Source: South African Police Service