36-YEAR-OLD MAN ARRESTED FOR TRANSPORTING ILLICIT CIGARETTE WORTH 4.5 MILLION RAND

Ventersdorp – The North West Provincial Traffic Officers have arrested a 36-year-old man transporting illicit cigarettes at the Ventersdorp Weighbridge. A white truck traveling from Pretoria to Kuruman in Northern Cape was stopped on N14 as part of the normal operation by officers.

Upon inspection of the vehicle, and requiring information on the loaded cargo, the officer discovered that the truck was loaded with 350 boxes of what turned out to be illicit cigarettes, worth street value of just above four million and five hundred thousand rand. The cigarettes allegedly are manufactured in neighbouring Mozambique and are distributed by a company based in Lenasia in south of Johannesburg.

The driver was immediately arrested and taken to the Ventersdorp Police Station for processing. The MEC responsible for North West Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng has applauded the officers for being vigilant and stamping authority.

“The officers have done a good work and it’s a further indication that we are intolerant of any deviancy in the Province. These illicit cigarettes are killing our economy and are dangerous to the people,” said MEC Morweng.

This is the third time that a cargo of illicit cigarettes was seized in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District on N14 and N12 in the last three weeks. MEC Morweng calls on law enforcement to ensure that loaded vehicles passing through all major roads in the Province are being thoroughly checked. “If this trend persists, then we will have to increase the presence of law enforcement on these roads and maybe even increase regularity of joint operations”, said MEC Morweng.

-ENDS-

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY SAFETY AND TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT