LIMPOPO – Five members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), including a female soldier, and two undocumented Zimbabwean nationals are due to appear in the Musina Magistrate’s Court on Thursday (September 18) on charges related to illicit cigarettes and corruption.

The suspects, aged between 26 and 42, were arrested yesterday (September 16) during a joint operation by the SAPS Limpopo Beitbridge Task Team and Military Intelligence.

According to the Limpopo police spokesperson, Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba, the arrests stem from an incident at Artonvilla, along the first Malaladrift road near the Limpopo River.

“It is alleged the group conspired to intercept and steal a consignment of illicit cigarettes being smuggled into South Africa. Shots were reportedly fired during the operation, forcing smugglers to abandon 24 boxes of illicit cigarettes. Six of the boxes were later discovered hidden inside a temporary military camp,” Mashaba stated.

He added that the accused face charges of corruption, possession of illicit cigarettes, unlawful discharge of a firearm, and defeating the ends of justice.

The provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, commended the swift action of the joint law enforcement teams.

“Corruption involving members entrusted with national security will not be tolerated,” she said.