R30 million cigarettes smugglers bust

SOUTH Africa’s crack police team, The Hawks, have arrested five suspects in connection with R30 million worth of cigarettes smuggled from Zimbabwe.

Manuel Mphephu (44) Gibson Machaha (37) Moses Matembudze (38); Asoith Rambuwani (26); and Swethani Mphephu (26), all SA nationals, were caught on a farm between Musina and the Beitbridge Border Post in the Limpopo Province last weekend, according to reports.

Limpopo Hawks spokesperson Captain Matimba Maluleke is reported saying police received a tip-off about illicit cigarettes being smuggled into that country and found the gang concealing cigarettes with bricks.

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