R64,620 cigarette stash goes up in smoke

Platinum Bushvelder newspaper | Thabazimbi – A tip-off led police to an RDP house in Regorogile Extension 5, where they uncovered 359 cartons of illicit cigarettes concealed in boxes on Saturday night, 17 October 2026. The haul of Remington Gold cigarettes, valued at an estimated R64,620, resulted in the arrest of a 37-year-old tuck-shop owner.

According to police spokesperson brigadier Hlulani Mashaba, Thabazimbi Crime Prevention members were on routine patrol when they received information that the shop owner was storing illicit cigarettes at a separate property nearby. Officers searched the identified house and discovered the stash.

Police said the suspect could not satisfactorily explain the origin and possession of the cigarettes.

He was expected to appear before the Thabazimbi Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 19 October, on a charge of possession of illicit cigarettes.

Police investigations continue.