SANDF soldiers caught smuggling illicit cigarettes in military vehicle

LIMPOPO – Provincial police commissioner, Lt Genl Thembi Hadebe commended police members for the arrest of three men, two of whom are members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and an undocumented foreign national, for possession of illicit cigarettes worth R160 000.

The trio were caught during an intelligence-driven police operation along the N1 road north of Musina on Friday, June 18.

Police spokesperson Brig Motlafela Mojapleo said police members at Beitbridge received information about a military vehicle loaded with illicit cigarettes travelling to Musina to make a delivery to an unidentified buyer in the area.

The members reacted and a stop and search operation was staged next to the Baobab Truck Park along the N1 road north of Musina, he explained.

“A military vehicle fitting the description given approached and the members pulled it over. Two uniformed soldiers and a civilian wearing an army jacket disembarked from the vehicle.

“The vehicle was searched and 12 boxes of illicit cigarettes to the value of R160 000 were found packed in the back of the said vehicle.”

Mojapleo added that the civilian was immediately taken into custody and the military vehicle was confiscated.

“The armed soldiers refused to be arrested and were later brought to the police station by their commander and were detained.”

The two soldiers, aged 27 and 38, have been charged with possession of illicit cigarettes, defeating the ends of Justice and resisting arrest. The third suspect will be charged with impersonating SANDF members and contravening the Immigration Act, he said.

All three suspects are expected to appear in the Musina Magistrate’s Court on Monday.