SARS customs official, two others arrested over illicit cigarette bust
A 36-year-old customs official from the South African Revenue Service (SARS) and two others have been arrested after illegal cigarettes worth more than R9 million rand were found in a truck.
Limpopo police confiscated the truck between Makhado and Tshilwavhusiku on Friday.
"Makhado Police were performing patrol duties when they noticed a truck driving at a high speed along the N1 road and tried to stop it. The driver sped off and members called back up from Tshilwavhusiku Saps. In the process, police received information from the tracking company about a hijacked truck matching the same description, heading towards the Tshilwavhusiku area," says Limpopo police Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo.
"The said truck was later found abandoned at Magau area. It was searched and boxes of the illicit cigarette with an estimated street value of R9 903 474, 00 were confiscated," adds Mojapelo.
The three suspects will appear in Tshilwavhusiku Magistrate's Court soon facing charges of corruption and defeating the ends of Justice.
