The Ventersdorp Magistrate’s Court has postponed the bail application of 36-year-old Mthobisi Mkhwatswa to next week Thursday.
He was arrested on Wednesday at a weighbridge in Ventersdorp, after he was found transporting 350 boxes of Chief and Sahawi illicit cigarettes, worth an estimated value of R4,5 million.
According to authorities, the truck which was travelling from Pretoria to Kuruman in the Northern Cape, was stopped on N14 as part of the normal operation by officers.
“Reports suggest that after becoming aware that the truck was overloaded, traffic officials at the weighbridge checked the load and found that it was cigarettes.
“The police were then called to the scene, and the truck driver was arrested for possession of illicit cigarettes, and both the truck and the illicit cigarettes were confiscated.
“The Provincial Commercial Crime Investigation Unit is investigating,” said police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone.
Police suspect that the cigarettes allegedly were manufactured in Mozambique and are distributed by a company based in Lenasia, south of Johannesburg.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner of North West, Major-General Patrick Asaneng, has welcomed the arrest describing it as ‘significant in the police investigations and efforts to dismantle trans-national organised criminal groups involved in the illicit economy that cost the fiscus billions of rands in lost revenue and taxes by flooding the market with fake, cheap and dangerous goods such as illicit cigarettes.’
Community Safety and Transport Management MEC, Wessels Morweng, has also applauded the officers for being vigilant and stamping authority.
“The officers have done a good job 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,” remarked Morweng.
He expressed concern that 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.
The MEC implored 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,” warned Morweng.
