South African Police Service (SAPS) officers at the Kopfontein border post with Botswana, along with Zeerust K9 unit members, have arrested two suspects in separate incidents and seized illicit cigarettes worth R5 million.
North West Police report that in the first incident, a 37-year-old suspect was arrested while entering the country from Botswana through the Kopfontein Port of Entry.
When his truck was stopped and searched, police found 303 cases of illicit cigarettes worth R3.8 million inside a hidden compartment.
Another suspect, aged 40, was also arrested during a search operation at a filling station along the R49 near Zeerust.
During a search of his truck, police found 645 cases of cigarettes with an estimated value of R1.2 million.
Both suspects are due to appear in the Zeerust Magistrate's court on Monday on charges of contravening the Customs and Excise Act.
