KZN police arrests 9 people for possession of illicit cigarettes, dagga, guns at roadblock
The suspects will appear in the Empangeni Magistrate's Court on Monday.
Police collect material after a roadblock conducted by the SAPS and the SANDF along the N1N, Johannesburg, 24 April 2020. The roadblock’s main function was to enforce the lockdown regulations. Picture: Neil McCartney
The police arrested nine people, in separate incidents, for being in possession of cigarettes, dagga and guns at a roadblock on the N2 in the Empangeni area in KwaZulu-Natal.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Jay Naicker said Kwambonambi police stopped two minibus taxis and searched the occupants during the roadblock.
“They arrested two men, aged 26 and 41, for being in possession of illicit cigarettes. Police found both suspects with a number of cartons of counterfeit cigarettes.”
He said police also searched a bus and found two bags of dagga.
“A 30-year-old man was arrested for possession of dagga. [In addition] police also pulled over three passenger vehicles and arrested six men, aged between 25 and 53, after police found cartons of illicit cigarettes and alcohol in their vehicles.”
Naicker said, during the arrests, police were also confronted by an unruly duo.
“A passenger, who was in a bakkie, passed undesirable remarks at the police officers who were arresting the men with cigarettes and alcohol.
“The bakkie was stopped and both the passenger and the driver were searched. Police found the 26-year-old driver in possession of a firearm, and they arrested him for being in illegal possession of a firearm.”
He said the nine people arrested will appear in the Empangeni Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
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