The Pretoria Central SAPS recently arrested three men and recovered nearly half a million rands’ worth of illicit cigarettes during an intelligence-driven operation in Marabastad.

According to Pretoria Rekord, the suspects are expected to appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court today, pending further investigation.

The Pretoria Central crime intelligence team made the bust after receiving a tip-off regarding the storage location of the cigarettes and the syndicate involved.

A team tasked with tracing the location, along with a crime prevention unit, set out on Friday and located the shop in the early hours of the morning.

Spokesperson Constable Thabang Nkhumise said the suspects, aged 56, 53, and 36, were taken into custody after failing to produce valid documentation, including declarations of goods and purchase invoices.

“The police uncovered boxes containing different brands of cigarettes estimated at a value of about R500 000 hidden at the two identified shops located at the Oriental Plaza Marabastad,” Nkhumise said.

The three were detained at the station and charged under Section 15 of the Customs Duty Act 30 of 2014 for undervaluation of goods to evade duties.

Station commander Brigadier Hlengani Gibin Mashaba commended the officers for the bust and warned business owners to comply with trade regulations or face consequences.

Mashaba also cautioned police officers, stating that those found engaging in similar activities would not be spared.

“We want to warn all business owners around the policing precinct to comply with the rules and regulations of trading or conducting their businesses. Selling cigarettes below the price set by Customs and Excise, and failing to provide purchase invoices, constitutes non-compliance with South African tax and trade regulations,” he said.

“I am aware that there are police officers conducting criminal activities around the business precinct, and should they be found, they will face the might of the law.”

He urged the public to report any criminal activities.

Tip-offs can be submitted anonymously by calling the Crime Stop hotline on 08600 10111, dialling 112 on any network, or using the MySAPS app. The station can also be contacted directly at 012 353 5000.

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