Smugglers attempt to hide cigarettes in water tanks. SAPS Image
(The Post News)- A major bust went down in Sundra, Mpumalanga, where police officers stopped a truck carrying 12 water tanks filled with illicit cigarettes. The haul was massive – 25 pallets of cigarettes worth a whopping R17.4 million.
The arrest happened around 10 pm on Friday night after police received a tip-off about the suspicious truck. The 43-year-old Eswatini national driver is now facing charges for possession of illicit goods and will appear in the Delmas District Court on Monday.
The police statement revealed that the water tanks, each with a 5,000-liter capacity, were packed to the brim with different brands of cigarette cartons. It’s clear that the perpetrators tried to get creative with their smuggling methods.
In a Separate Incident
In a separate incident, three suspects were arrested in Athlone, Western Cape, for driving a stolen car and possessing an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. The police chased them down after they sped past officers on Jakes Gerwel Drive.
The suspects, found with 43 rounds of ammunition, failed to provide a valid explanation for the firearm. Investigations showed the car was stolen in Lansdowne, August 2025.
About the Author
