NOORDWESTER - ZEERUST - The fight against illicit economic activities gained another success when a suspect was arrested with illicit cigarettes.
A follow-up was made on information received from an attentive farmer on Thursday evening, 27 June, about suspicious activities on his farm in Zeerust, leading to the arrest of a 55-year-old male and the recovery of illicit cigarettes worth R1.5 million. It is alleged that police responded to a call from a farmer who spotted an unknown truck, parked on his farm.
On arrival, the police approached the truck and found a male inside. Upon searching the truck, illicit cigarettes were found and the man was arrested while the truck and cigarettes were confiscated. Accused, Sabelo Mampane (55), appeared before the Zeerust Magistrates’ Court and was remanded in custody until his next court appearance before the same court on Friday, 5 July.
Investigations into the matter are underway by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI).
This is the second bust of illicit cigarettes within three days. In the first incident, police and South African National Defence Force (SANDF) confiscated illicit cigarettes with an estimated street value of R8 million in Makgobistad on Tuesday, 25 June. The Provincial Commissioner of North West, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, commended the farmer for his vigilance and cooperation, which led to the discovery and subsequent arrest of the suspect.
