Contract killers bump off transporter of smuggled goods

CONTRACT KILLERS brought in from SA to bump off the transporter of smuggled cigarettes in Swaziland have exposed the level of competition in the increasingly high-stakes smuggling game, while a customs department and police bust at the weekend of a R17 million consignment of illegal cigarettes is the latest indication of the degree of goods smuggling in the kingdom. A well-known Manzini businessman’s smuggling activities apparently irked a business rival who has been arrested along with two South Africans brought in by the accused to gun down his competitor at the Matsapha Industrial Estate two weeks ago. The deceased had blamed his accused killer of tipping off the cops over a delivery of illegal cigarettes, which they seized. The accused said at his bail hearing that he feared for his life, and he acted preemptively. Another prominent businessman, this one from Mbabane, has been linked to this week’s customs haul of cigarettes traced to a Matsapha warehouse. The 5000 cartons offloaded from trucks by police with the assistance of inmates from Matsapha Prison came through Lomahasha Border Post from Mozambique. Investigations will seek to determine what if any collusion was offered by customs agents at Lomahasha. Four months ago, Finance Minister Majozi Sithole told parliament that only 20% of customs duties due to government were actually collected. He blamed corruption, spread between customs officers and bribe-giving business people. All confiscated cigarettes were brands not permitted to enter Swaziland because of an SA Customs Union agreement. A source told FTW they were likely in transit to SA.