Following a tipoff, two individuals were intercepted in Mbombela after they were allegedly found transporting 50 cases of illicit cigarettes valued at more than half a million rand today, June 5.

The suspects, aged 35 and 43, were arrested after police received information about activities at a storage facility in White River. Members of the Hawks’ Mbombela-based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit, the White River K9 Unit, and Divergent Ops closely monitored movements of vehicles in the area.

“Information regarding the delivery was received on Thursday June 4. A multidisciplinary team was assembled, leading to a Toyota Hilux being identified as one of the vehicles transporting the illicit cigarettes. The vehicle was followed and intercepted in Nelspruit, where it was found transporting illicit cigarettes worth over R500 000. The two suspects travelling in the vehicle were then arrested,” said Mpumalanga Hawks spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi.

According to him, the arrests followed a lengthy surveillance operation at the storage facility. Police obtained a search warrant and waited for a delivery to be made. A search was conducted and investigators recovered 87 cases and 45 cartons of illicit cigarettes, valued at more than R1.2m, bringing the total value of the recovered illicit cigarettes close to R1.7m.

The arrested suspects are expected to appear in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on Monday, June 8.

The Mpumalanga head of the Hawks, Major General Nico Gerber, said criminals are taking advantage of the province. “The sale of illicit cigarettes costs the country significant revenue and has a negative impact on both the economy and its citizens. Those involved make substantial profits without paying taxes, while the illicit cigarette trade adversely affects the livelihoods of South Africans,” he said.