Border Management Authority (BMA) officials seized a “significant” amount of illicit tobacco that smugglers were trying to move through the Beitbridge border post on Wednesday.
BMA Commissioner, Michael Masiapato, said officials had confiscated the goods during a targeted operation in the early hours of the morning.
He said junior border guards detected the tobacco using a newly acquired video scope inspection toolkit when they inspected a truck arriving from Zimbabwe.
“Thanks to this new technology that provided advanced imaging, the officials detected a concealed load, prompting a physical inspection which uncovered 14 master boxes of Remington Gold cigarettes. One male Zimbabwean national has been arrested and a docket has been opened for further criminal investigation,” said Masiapato.
He said the use of the new cargo scanner was decisive in detecting the illicit load, underscoring the value of continued investment in modern border control technology.
“The efforts of our junior border guards continue to ensure coordinated rapid response. The joint operations approach that needs to be implemented by law enforcement working in vulnerable areas is central to disrupting sophisticated smuggling networks.
“Illicit tobacco deprives the South African Revenue Service of critical revenue. By intercepting such consignments, the BMA helps to safeguard tax integrity and public finances. Beyond the immediate financial loss, illicit cigarettes pose health risks and fuel organised crime,” said Masiapato.
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