Two Zimbabwean nationals arrested as police intercept R2m in illegal cigarettes on coal truck

Two Zimbabwean nationals aged 23 and 35 have been arrested after illegal cigarettes worth almost R2 million were discovered hidden under coal on a truck on Friday after Border Policing and Customs received a tip-off.

The arrests occurred at the Groblersbrug Port of Entry in the Waterberg District, which connects South Africa with Botswana across the Limpopo River.

During the inspection, the coal was offloaded from the truck, and Border Policing and Customs discovered 4,800 cartons of illicit cigarettes concealed beneath the load.

The cartons comprised 4,050 cartons of Remington Gold cigarettes and 750 cartons of Swan cigarettes, collectively worth an estimated R1,996,800.

Both the cigarettes and the truck were seized, and the two Zimbabwean men connected to the cigarettes were arrested. They are expected to appear in the Phalala Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

They are facing a charge related to the smuggling of illicit cigarettes.

#sapsLIM [TWO SUSPECTS ARRESTED AFTER ILLICIT CIGARETTES WORTH ALMOST R2 MILLION WERE FOUND CONCEALED UNDER A LOAD OF COAL AT GROBLERSBRUG PORT OF ENTRY] Two male suspects aged 23 and 35 were arrested after illicit cigarettes valued at almost R2 MIL were discovered concealed… pic.twitter.com/AXJuHL8BKt

— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) August 22, 2026