Mpumalanga – Two foreign nationals have been arrested after police recovered illicit cigarettes worth close to R2 million during an intelligence-driven operation in Mpumalanga.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), the suspects, aged 35 and 43, were intercepted in Nelspruit on Friday, 5 June 2026, while transporting 50 master cases of illicit cigarettes valued at more than R500,000 in a Toyota Hilux.
The arrests followed a lengthy surveillance operation after authorities received information about suspected illegal activities at a storage facility in White River.
Police obtained a search warrant and monitored the premises before moving in after receiving information about a delivery on Thursday.
A multidisciplinary team comprising the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit, White River K9 Unit and Divergent Operations tracked the vehicle believed to be transporting the illicit goods before stopping it in Nelspruit.
Further investigations led officers to a storage facility in White River, where they were joined by officials from the South African Revenue Service (SARS) Customs division and the Local Criminal Record Centre.
During the search, investigators recovered an additional 87 master cases and 45 cartons of illicit cigarettes valued at more than R1.2 million.
The total value of the seized cigarettes is estimated at close to R2 million.
The suspects are expected to appear before the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 8 June 2026, on charges related to the possession and transportation of illicit tobacco products.
Police said investigations into the illicit cigarette network are continuing.
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Picture: Facebook/SAPS
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
