Suspects found transporting illicit cigarettes remanded to custody
GA-MATHIPA – Two male suspects aged 26 and 34 who have been arrested for possession of illicit cigarettes along the R37 Road at Ga-Mathipa Village, Mashemong Section within the Driekop policing area on Sunday, 17 November were remanded to custody until 27 November when they appeared before the Mecklenburg Magistrate’ Court on Monday, 18 November.
The suspects, Wlliam Mongate (26) and Leslie Tafireyi (34) were remanded to police custody for formal bail application and further police investigations.
Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, Limpopo Provincial Police spokesperson, said it is reported that a traffic officer who was performing his duties along the road at the village stopped a grey Mercedes Benz with no registration number and noticed that it was fully loaded with unknown objects, covered in a black sheet in the back seat.
Ledwaba revealed that the 34 year-old driver refused the officer to search the vehicle and drove off in the Burgersfort direction.
“A car chase ensued and the officer managed to contact his colleagues and police for assistance while chasing after the vehicle. During the chase, a white Audi VW with a Gauteng registration number started to obstruct the law enforcement officials not to stop the Mercedes Benz, which suddenly turned into a gravel road at Driekop Village, Holong Section. The vehicle allegedly got a tyre puncture and stopped after being cornered by the police who then searched it,” explained Ledwaba.
He revealed that during the search, police discovered 578 cartoons of illicit Remington Gold cigarettes inside the vehicle and a 34 year-old Zimbabwean national was placed under arrest on the spot.
“While driving to the police station, the white Audi which was obstructing the police during a car chase was found parked next to the main road with a male driver inside. It was also searched and found loaded with 100 cartoons of illicit cigarettes of the same brand that was seized from the Mercedes Benz,” added Ledwaba.
He stated that the 26 year-old driver of the Audi was immediately arrested for possession of illicit cigarettes and police also impounded the vehicles.
“The illicit cigarettes that were seized are estimated at a street value of more than R400 000,” concluded Ledwaba.
