Fag smugglers tarred with the same brush
Since the end of April at least six people have been arrested in connection with dealing and possession of illicit cigarettes and dagga in the Garden Route district.
On 30 April and 6 May three men were arrested in two unrelated incidents involving the possession and dealing of drugs in George. Read the article, Owerhede maak vuur onder dwelmsmouse in George, at www. georgeherald.com.
Cigarettes
In the most recent incident on Tuesday morning 12 May, a 30-year-old Bangladeshi man was arrested after eight boxes of cigarettes containing 50 cartons each, were found in his vehicle at a roadblock. The consignment had an estimated street value of R200 000.
According to Southern Cape police spokesperson, Captain Malcolm Pojie, the suspect was driving a Ford bakkie loaded with pineapples when he was stopped at a roadblock at the Tsitsikamma toll gate at approximately 06:50 that morning.
"The suspect was en route from Grahamstown to George when a member of the Tsitsikamma K9 unit noticed that the driver appeared to be anxious. As a result he was pulled over and eight boxes of cigarettes were found underneath the pineapples on the back of the bakkie. The illicit cigarettes were destined for distribution in George," said Pojie.
According to Pojie another alleged cigarette smuggler was arrested on Friday 8 May near Ladismith. The suspect (35), a man from Ethiopia, was arrested with 450 illicit cigarettes to the estimated value of R5 000 in his possession. "The suspect received a summons and opted to pay a fine to the value of R2 000 and was released," said Pojie.
Dagga bust on R62
In another incident, on Monday 11 May, a man (26) was arrested for the possession of approximately 63kg of dagga, with an estimated street value of R85 000, at a roadblock on the R62 in the Langkloof.
The vehicle, a MercedesBenz, was en route from the Eastern to the Western Cape when it was pulled over and three big bags filled with dagga were found by police.
Eden Cluster Commander, Maj-Gen Oswald Reddy, commended the members involved in the busts for their vigilance and commitment to root out the transportation and distribution of contraband in our province and region.
"Their high level of dedication and commitment under trying circumstances is an example of the calibre of officials we want to deploy to safeguard communities," he said.