Two male suspects aged 23 and 35 were arrested after illicit cigarettes valued at almost R2 million were discovered concealed underneath a load of coal in a truck at the Groblersbrug Port of Entry in the Waterberg District on Friday, 21 August 2026.
The arrest followed information received by members of Border Policing and Customs at approximately 11:00 about a truck suspected of transporting illicit cigarettes through the port of entry.
Acting on the information, the members operationalised the intelligence and positioned themselves at the port. The identified truck was subsequently intercepted upon entering the port and subjected to a preliminary inspection.
During the inspection, members became suspicious that prohibited goods were concealed underneath the load of coal. The truck was then taken to a designated searching area for a thorough inspection.
The coal was offloaded, and members discovered bags containing master cartons of illicit cigarettes concealed beneath the load.
A total of 4 800 (four thousand eight hundred) cartons of illicit cigarettes were confiscated, comprising:
•4050 (four thousand and fifty) cartons of Remington Gold cigarettes; and
– 750 (seven hundred and fifty) cartons of Swan cigarettes.
The illicit cigarettes have an estimated value of R1 996 800.00 (one million nine hundred and ninety-six thousand eight hundred rand).
Police and Customs officials also seized a white and red international truck together with two Afrit Tubmaster tipper trailers, with an estimated combined value of R854 250.00 (eight hundred and fifty-four thousand two hundred and fifty rand).
The two male suspects are both Zimbabwean nationals.
They are expected to appear before the Phalala Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 24 August 2026 facing a charge related to the smuggling of illicit cigarettes.
The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Jan Scheepers, welcomed the arrests and applauded the vigilance and cooperation displayed by the members involved.
“The cooperation between law-enforcement agencies at our ports of entry remains critical in disrupting these criminal networks.” said Lieutenant General Scheepers.
Police investigations are continuing.
Two male suspects aged 23 and 35 were arrested after illicit cigarettes valued at almost R2 million were discovered concealed underneath a load of coal in a truck at the Groblersbrug Port of Entry in the Waterberg Districthttps://t.co/1I3CIWOnrB#ArriveAlive #Crime #Smuggling… pic.twitter.com/H09BlaDihL
– Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) August 22, 2026
