The foreign national truck driver was arrested by the police at the Beitbrige Port of Entry in Limpopo while trying to smuggle illicit cigarettes worth more than R2 million into the country on Thursday morning.

Police in Limpopo have arrested a 44-year-old foreign national male at the Beitbridge Port of Entry on Thursday,20 March 2025 at approximately 03:15 for attempting to smuggle illicit cigarettes with customs value of R2,139 000-00,the police statement said.

The police revealed that the truck driver told the border officials that the truck was empty which was lie because during the search more than 400 boxes were loaded with cigarettes.

Police said during routine profiling and searches of trucks at the South Gate entering the Republic of SA,police stopped a freight liner truck with Gauteng registration.The driver presented a manifest indicating that the truck was empty.However,a thorough search revealed that the truck was laden with pallets and several boxes positioned in front of the pallets.The vehicle was subsequently taken to the commercial ramp where it was opened,revealing it was loaded with 460 boxes.Each box,when opened,contained 100 cartoons of Remington Gold cigarettes.

The police mentioned that the driver was detained at the local police station and was charged,and he will appear in court next week Monday.

Police concluded that following the discovery,the suspect was detained at SAPS Musina and charged with smuggling of illicit cigarettes.He is scheduled to appear before the Musina Magistrate's Court on Monday,24 March 2025.