
Two male suspects aged 26 and 34 nabbed in connection with a charge of possession of illicit cigarettes at Driekop policing area under Sekhukhune District on Sunday, 17 November 2024 at about 08:30 have appeared before the Mecklenburg Magistrate court on Monday 18 November 2024.
William Mongate (26) and Leslie Tafireyi (34) were remanded in police custody and their case was postponed to 27 November 2024 for bail application and further police investigations.
It is reported that a local Traffic Officer was performing his duties along the R37 public road at Ga-Mathipa, Mashemong village when he stopped a grey Mercedes-Benz motor vehicle with no registration number. The officer introduced himself and asked to search the motor vehicle after noticing that it was fully loaded with unknown objects covered with a black sheet in the back seat.
A 34-year-old driver refused and drove off towards Burgersfort direction and a car chase ensued and the officer managed to contact his colleagues and police for assistance while chasing the motor vehicle.
During the chase, a white Audi VW motor vehicle with Gauteng registration number started obstructing the law enforcement officials not to stop the Mercedes-Benz vehicle that suddenly turned to a gravel road at Driekop, Holong village. The motor vehicle allegedly got a tyre puncture and stopped after being cornered by the police who searched it.
During the search, police discovered 578 cartoons of illicit Remington Gold (RG) cigarettes inside the motor vehicle and a 34 year-old Zimbabwean National was placed under an arrest on the spot.
While driving to the police station, a white Audi motor vehicle which was obstructing the police during a car chase was found parked next to the main road with a male driver inside. It was also searched and found loaded with 100 cartoons of illicit cigarettes of the same brand that was seized from a 34 year-old male suspect.
A 26-year-old male was immediately arrested for possession of illicit cigarettes and police also impounded the two motor vehicles that were used during the commission of the crime. The illicit cigarettes seized are estimated with a street value of more than four hundred thousand of rands (R400.000).
Police investigations are continuing.
Two male suspects nabbed for possession of illicit cigarettes worth thousands of rands remanded in police custody https://t.co/6cOAWajtu2#ArriveAlive #IllicitTrade #Enforcement @SAPoliceService @TruckAndFreight pic.twitter.com/IBvKFwH5BJ
– Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) November 19, 2024