TMPD nabs foreign nationals for possession of illicit cigarettes in Cullinan
According to a media statement released by the TMPD on April 23, they aimed the operation at a supermarket owned by foreign nationals.
Tshwane Metro Police (TMPD) arrested five foreign nationals on April 22 for the possession and storage of illicit cigarettes.
The arrest follows an intelligence-driven operation where members of the Tshwane Metro Police and other role players conducted an operation in the Cullinan and Rayton police precinct.
According to a media statement released by the TMPD on April 23, they aimed the operation at a supermarket owned by foreign nationals.
They received information that the supermarket sells and stores illicit cigarettes and had illegal firearms at the premises.
Upon the teams’ arrival at the shop, officers found many boxes containing different types of cigarettes stored at the upper level of the shop.
The officers called customs officials from the South African Revenue Services (SARS) to the scene to confirm and identify whether the discovered cigarettes were illicit.
After inspecting the cigarettes, the officials confirmed these cigarettes were illicit, and the officers confiscated them.
The officers, together with the suspects, then went to a residential address in the Rayton area where the suspects lived.
They searched for the firearms, but it yielded no success.
More boxes of cigarettes were, however, found in the basement. SARS also declared the cigarettes as illicit.
The team arrested the foreign nationals after one suspect attempted to bribe an officer with R2 500.
The police added the bribery of a police officer to the suspects’ charges.
“The continued efforts of the TMPD members for their hard work and dedication to combat crime in the city is one of the key focus areas – well done to the members.”
