In a major blow to illicit trade, police arrested two suspects—aged 19 and 44—on 15 August 2025 after uncovering a massive stash of illicit cigarettes worth R3.1 million hidden behind boxes of cooking oil in a white truck with Lesotho plates.
The vehicle was intercepted during a routine search at an R82 checkpoint in Kroonstad, where officers discovered 400 boxes of illegal cigarettes carefully concealed in the cargo.
The suspects are expected to appear in the Sasolburg Magistrate’s Court today, 18 August, on charges related to illegal possession and transportation of contraband goods.
Authorities say the bust highlights the ongoing fight against cross-border smuggling networks, and investigations are underway to determine whether the suspects are linked to a larger trafficking operation.
Police have urged the public to report any suspicious activity as they continue cracking down on the multi-million-rand black market in illicit tobacco.
