18 boxes of illicit cigarettes smuggled from Mozambique recovered

Acting on a tip-off about a vehicle transporting cigarettes from the Mozambique border to Durban, police intercepted the bakkie in the Hluhluwe area.

“Eighteen boxes of cigarettes with a street value of R220 000 were found and the driver was immediately arrested and charged for possession of illegal cigarettes,” said KZN Hawks spokesperson, Captain Simphiwe Mhlongo.

Deputy chairperson of the uMkhanyakude community policing forum cluster, Themba Zikhali, said they have been complaining about criminal activities along the border for some time.

“Police need to tighten up their operations here. This is not the first suspect to be arrested in Hluhluwe. The question is, how did this suspect manage to cross the border with such a large consignment of illegal cigarettes? Where were the police?

“Recently, several boxes of smuggled cigarettes were found hidden in the bushes in Hluhluwe. But we are happy that police managed to arrest the suspect, who will hopefully reveal the identities of his accomplices,” Zikhali said.

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