By Delicious Mathuthu
A-39-year-old Ethiopian national was on Thursday (09/05/24) sentenced and fined R200 000 for possession of illicit cigarettes in South Africa.
The national, Lakiso Mencheme Tasfaye, was intercepted by the Hoedspruit based Organised Crime Investigation members after receiving a tip-off in February 2024, while on his way to Mpumalanga Province from Malamulele outside Giyani.
“The suspect was intercepted in Hoedspruit policing area, driving a silver grey Toyota Rav 4.
“Upon searching the vehicle, several boxes containing Remington Gold illicit cigarettes valued at R390 000, 00 were confiscated,” South African Police Service Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba said.
On the 9th of May, Tasfaye was sentenced for possessing illicit cigarettes by the Giyani Specialised Commercial Crimes Court.
He was handed a R200 000 fine, or five years in prison.
Illicit cigarettes trade involves the supply, distribution and sale of smuggled genuine, counterfeit or cheap tobacco products.
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) estimates that trade in these tobacco products costs South Africa billions of rands in missed taxes each year.
Proceeds from illicit trade are believed to sponsor high-level corruption, finance criminal activities and fund political parties.
