A coordinated multi disciplinary operation in Polokwane has resulted in the seizure of illicit cigarettes with an estimated street value of R25 million and the arrest of a 39 year old suspect, police announced Thursday.
The raid, which took place on Wednesday in the Nirvana suburb, targeted a warehouse suspected of being a major distribution hub for counterfeit and smuggled tobacco products. The operation was led by the South African Police Service (SAPS) in conjunction with Customs officials, drawing personnel from Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, and the Free State.
Upon searching the premises, authorities discovered large quantities of cigarettes believed to be illicit. The warehouse manager, identified as a 39 year old Indian national, was taken into custody and is expected to face charges under the Customs and Excise Act.
The sheer scale of the operation drew high level police oversight. Limpopo Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe was present at the scene, accompanied by a contingent of senior officers including Major General Govender, Capricorn District Commissioner Major General Mashilo, and members from various specialized units including Organised Crime, Public Order Policing, and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks). Officials from the South African Revenue Service (SARS) were also integral to the search.
The suspect is scheduled to appear before the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on Friday. Provincial Commissioner Hadebe praised the collaborative effort, stating that investigations are ongoing and that authorities are actively working to dismantle the broader criminal network involved in the illicit tobacco trade. Further arrests have not been ruled out.