Illegal cigarettes valued at millions seized and destroyed
By Staff Reporter
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SOUTH African Revenue Service (SARS) customs officers recently scored several victories in the fight against the trade in illegal cigarettes with a search-and-seizure operation in three cities and a bust at the Kopfontein border post.
In Kempton Park, Pretoria and Joburg, 22 shops were raided and illegal cigarettes valued at R2.4 million were seized in a joint operation between SARS Customs, the SAPS, The Department of Home Affairs and the Metro Police.
At the Kopfontein border post, Customs officials searched a tanker, which had arrived from Botswana, and discovered three false compartments. The compartments were packed with 355 master cases of illegal cigarettes, valued at over R5.5m. The truck and cigarettes were detained for further investigation.
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