On 01 May the South African Revenue Service (SARS) law enforcement team, the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Tshwane Metro Police, acting on a tip-off, intercepted a truck carrying illicit cigarettes at Bronkhorstspruit.
The illicit cigarettes were imported through Beitbridge where they were falsely declared as tea leaves. The truck was stopped at Bronkhorstspruit. On being approached, the driver fled the scene, and the truck and its consignment were detained. The truck was carrying 1 000 master cases of illicit cigarettes valued at a tax prejudice of R20 million. The truck and its contents have been moved to a secure SARS facility. SARS will make further disclosures once the investigation has progressed further.