SEVEN SUSPECTS APPEARED IN VARIOUS COURTS IN LIMPOPO IN CONNECTION WITH ILLICIT CIGARETTES

SEVEN SUSPECTS APPEARED IN VARIOUS COURTS IN LIMPOPO IN CONNECTION WITH ILLICIT CIGARETTES

A 47-year-old Zimbabwean national, Peter Tambudze, has appeared in Musina Magistrates’ Court on charges of fraud, false declaration, and possession of illicit cigarettes. It is alleged that on 19 January 2023, the accused arrived at the Beitbridge border from Zimbabwe, driving a truck with two trailers. He declared on the SAD 500/Entry form that he is transporting cotton. Along the way from Musina, police officers stopped the truck and searched it. They found that the truck was loaded with illicit cigarettes worth over R21 million, and he was arrested. The following items were confiscated by the state: a truck, two trailers, two containers, the cigarettes and the matter was referred to the Asset Forfeiture Unit.

The matter is adjourned to 14 until 15 February 2023, for formal bail application in Musina Magistrates’ Court.

In another similar matter, six suspects, Jan Botha (42), Ekman Eddie (34), Harley Reegan (29), Sibanda Clement (42), De Well Elton (34) and Bhikoo Ephraim (57) have appeared in Marble Hall Periodical Court, for possession of illicit cigarettes worth over R5 million. The accused persons had 1 026 cases of cigarettes. On 27 January 2023, police arrested the suspects in possession of illicit cigarettes. It is alleged that upon police arrival the suspects were in the process of packaging the cigarettes inside a gas tank at Toitskraal farm. The police allegedly found Bhikoo Ephraim who is the owner of the farm, and they also found two suspects who were inside the gas tanker offloading cigarettes. One of the suspects was the driver of the escort Toyota Auris which was found at the scene. The driver of the gas tanker ran away, and he is still at large. During the incident, police managed to confiscate three trucks, a gas tanker, Isuzu, Toyota Auris and cigarettes. The matter is transferred to Polokwane Specialised Commercial Crimes Court for bail application on 15 February 2023. The accused persons will remain in custody.