Police bust LATEST: Illicit cigarettes recovered in N3 roadblock

Police pounced on two suspects for alleged possession of illegal cigarettes during two separate roadblocks in the Freestate on Monday.

SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Motantsi Makhele said police discovered the illegal stashes of cigarettes when they searched two vehicles in separate incidents on the R59 and the N3 freeway.

The first search and arrest took place on the R59 in Viljoensdrift. 

“Members who were on duty on the R59 road, noticed a  vehicle parked alongside the road. The vehicle was approached and a request made to search the vehicle. During the search cigarettes were found hidden in a black bag,” Makhele said. 

The suspect then attempted to bribe one of the police officers with  R1800 but he refused the bribe.

“About 2470 boxes of 20 (cigarettes) each to the estimated value of about R20 000 were confiscated by the police,” Makhele said. 

Makhele said a 40 year-old man was arrested on charges of being in possession of suspected illicit cigarettes and bribery. He is expected to appear in the Sasolburg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 28 July 2021.

Makhele said that in the second incident a taxi driver was arrested after he was allegedly found to be in possession of illicit cigarettes when his vehicle was searched at a police roadblock on the N3. The taxi driver was travelling towards Durban when he was stopped on the freeway. 

“The taxi was stopped  and searched at about 1pm and a box carrying cigarettes that could (not) be accounted for was found. Cigarettes valued at about R12 500 were confiscated,” Makhele said.

The suspect is expected to appear in the Harrismith Magistrates court on Tuesday 27 July 2021.