By: Kaya News Reporter
The South African Revenue Services has shredded over R17.4 million in illegal cigarettes in a move to control the unauthorized trade in the country.
Last week SARS began the process of destroying the confiscated cigarettes after various seizures to the value of R30 million was intercepted at a warehouse at the Beitbridge border.
According to SARS the destruction of the cigarettes will take several days to conclude because of the magnitude of the haul.
2 soldiers were arrested in Messina trying to smuggle illegal cigarettes from Zimbabwe using a state vehicle. They were arrested with 1 civilian who is an illegal immigrant. This was after a tip off and a road block was setup and walaaaaa. pic.twitter.com/W6DrBOSvMv
— Man’s NOT Barry Roux (@AdvoBarryRoux) June 21, 2021
Cigarettes that were smuggled into the country during the lockdown from March 2020 when cigarettes were banned are said to have a higher profit margin than heroin. This is because the cigarettes on the illegal market are cheaper to manufacture.
Also read: Amanda Black: “We are still in this pandemic because of corruption”



