Price of cigarettes to increase after R1.4 million illegal cigarettes seized  

Polokwane – Every time there is a huge bust in cigarettes, the local price of black-market cigarettes increase. Illicit cigarettes estimated at R1.4 million were seized by police in Musina on Friday 15 May during an operation also involving personnel from the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).

The suspects transporting the cigarettes managed to evade arrest after they abandoned their vehicles and fled in various directions just as they were about to be surrounded by the police. If caught I am sure the smokers of South Africa would line up to pay for their legal fees.

Police spokesperson brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said a roadblock was set up on the day in question after information about the suspects and their illegal activities had been received by law enforcement agents - some would call mpimpis. He said four vehicles used by the suspects to transport the cigarettes – a Mazda sedan, a Nissan paddle van, a Toyota Quantum and a Chrysler SUV – were spotted travelling from Tshipise along the N1 highway.

“The driver of the Nissan refused to stop and turned into the nearby gravel road. A chase ensued which lead to the driver losing control of the vehicle, hitting a fence. The suspects got out and ran into the nearby bushes,” Mojapelo explained. “The driver of the Toyota Quantum also failed to stop. Instead, the driver and a passenger he was travelling with jumped out of the moving vehicle and managed to escape. The suspects inside the Mazda and that of the fourth vehicle also escaped after abandoning the cars they were travelling in.”

Police searched three of the vehicles and discovered boxes containing cartons of illicit cigarettes worth R1,454,428.

Although no cigarettes were found in the Chrysler, police suspect the car was stolen.

Wow, all of this and the fact that everybody that smokes are still smoking, just less healthy cigarettes, and at inflated prices. Yet Dlamini-Zuma stands by her decision that the legal sale of tobacco products must be banned.

Anyone with information that can lead to the arrest of the suspects is requested to contact colonel Mamuhoyi on 082 414 6683, the crime stop number 08600 10111 or your nearest police station.