Six arrested for possession of R1 million worth of illegal cigarettes

According to the spokesperson for the Hawks, Brigadier Hangwani Mulauszi, the suspects, Asraf Shaik (26), Nadim Shaik (24), both Indian nationals, Jame Siyayimu (21), a Malawian resident, together with a 30-year-old Johannesburg resident Thamsanqa Dladla were arrested while loading 1 059 master cases of illegal cigarettes worth over R1 million from a combi into a truck.

The four suspects made a brief appearance in the Tzaneen Magistrate’s Court last week and their case was postponed for formal bail application.

One of the suspects allegedly offered the police R6 000 bribery and will face a further charge of attempting to bribe a police official.

They were due to appear in court at the time of going to press.