Two men, aged 60 and 45, were arrested on Wednesday, 20 May 2026, at approximately 08:30, following an operation on the R57 route near Zamdela.
The arrests were carried out by SAPS members from the Infrastructure Task Team, Highway Patrol Shift A, Viljoendrift Shift, in collaboration with Gauteng Crime Intelligence Gathering (CIG).
Acting on intelligence-driven information, authorities tracked a truck traveling along the R57 road. The vehicle was stopped and escorted to the Zamdela SAPS station for further inspection and searching.
During the process, the suspects allegedly offered officers a bribe of R900.00 in an attempt to prevent the search, as they could not provide invoices for the goods being transported.
Upon searching the truck, police discovered 499 boxes of illicit cigarettes concealed beneath 74 boxes of foam cups. The estimated value of the illicit cigarettes is approximately R3,119,750.00.
The two suspects face charges of possession of illicit cigarettes and bribery. They are expected to appear soon before the Sasolburg Magistrate’s Court.
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