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More than R500 00 worth of counterfeit cigarettes have been intercepted during a multidisciplinary roadblock on Tuesday led by Siboniso Duma, the MEC for Transport and Human Settlements.
“Today, we collectively demonstrated our determination to protect the people of KwaZulu-Natal from international criminal syndicates that are using our roads to transport counterfeit goods as part of cross-border crime. Some of these illicit, counterfeit, and undeclared goods have resulted in the loss of revenue and deaths of unsuspecting members of the public,” said Duma in a statement.
Between 8am and 11am, a multidisciplinary roadblock, in the Impendle Local Municipality, processed more than 201 cars - and two cars were found carrying counterfeit cigarettes worth more than R500 000.
A foreign national from Lesotho was detained at Boston Police Station.
“We have declared our road networks as ‘no go areas’ for unscrupulous elements who are involved in cross-border crime.”
The team comprised the Road Traffic Inspectorate, SAPS, SANDF, Impendle Local Municipality, and Ezemvelo Wildlife.
Duma said he had given the RTI team a clear instruction that they must be firm and arrest those who are carrying counterfeit goods.
“Stock theft is also rife in this area. Therefore, our main focus is to ensure that communities, who are living under the yoke of poverty, are protected. We say this because for many communities, livestock is their only source of income. Our message is that we will have no mercy against those who are stealing livestock and supplying meat to shisanyamas and butchers in urban areas.”
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