POLOKWANE – Two suspects were apprehended for transportation of  illicit cigarettes along the R71 public road at Dalmada outside Polokwane on Friday 23 September 2022.

Makhado Crime Intelligence Unit received information from a member of the community about a 8 Ton truck that was driven from Musina by two suspects who were heading to Alberton in Gauteng Province.

An intelligence driven operation was then conducted by Mankweng SAPS, members of the Limpopo Highway Patrol (LHP) team together with the Polokwane police to monitor the truck from the N1 North road where the truck was monitored from Makhado until it was stopped and searched at Dalmada area under Polokwane policing area.

Police found the truck loaded with 152 boxes of Remington Gold cigarettes. The suspects failed to account the origin of the illicit cigarettes. The truck and the illicit cigarettes valued at R1, 5 00-000 were seized during the arrest.

The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has commended the police for a well-coordinated operation and has also thanked community members for continuously assisting the police in the fight against crime.

The suspects aged 39 and 49 will appear in Polokwane magistrate court on Monday 26 September 2022.

Police investigations are continuing.

Source: South African Police Service