A proactive self-initiated operation by members of the Welkom Tactical Response Team, deployed to address taxi violence in the Ficksburg area, resulted in the significant seizure of illicit cigarettes and the arrest of one suspect.
On Wednesday, 26 November 2025, at approximately 10:00, TRT members decided to extend their operational hours to conduct a stop-and-search initiative in Ficksburg. A white Mercedes Benz Sprinter Panel-Van with Gauteng registration plates was stopped by the officers.
The vehicle was driven by a male foreign national. During the search of the vehicle, officers discovered 180 boxes of illicit cigarettes. The seized cigarettes have an estimated street value of R4,300 000.00. The South African Revenue Service (SARS) Customs officials were summoned to the scene and confirmed that the discovered cargo consisted of illicit cigarettes.
A 35-year-old male suspect was immediately arrested and detained for the possession of illicit cigarettes. The Mercedes Benz Sprinter Panel Van was also confiscated as it was used in the commission of a crime. The suspect is expected to appear in court soon to face charges related to the possession of illicit cigarettes.
