Swift action by police leads to suspects’ appearance in court

KAAPMUIDEN – The 36-year-old Mr Henry Khoza appeared in the Barberton Magistrate’s Court on Friday August 28 on a charge of dealing in illicit cigarettes.

Khoza’s appearance comes after police’s swift action while they were patrolling the N4 Highway. When they were near the Nkomazi Toll Plaza, they noticed a kombi exiting the N4 taking the gravel road heading to a certain compound and followed it. The vehicle was then spotted taking an alternative route through the sugar-cane fields and which raised more suspicion.

They signalled to the driver to stop and during the search, 58 boxes containing cartons of counterfeit cigarettes as well as 1 100 loose cartons were found.

The driver was then arrested on the spot and the loot with an estimated street value of R580 000 was confiscated. The suspect was granted R4 000 bail and the case had been postponed to a later date for further investigation.

The station commander praised the members for a job well done and for not hesitating to act upon their suspicions.