Hawks bust suspected cigarette smuggling syndicate in East London

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 The Hawks and the Organised Crime Unit have arrested six people in East London who are allegedly members of cigarette smuggling syndicate.

Hawks spokesperson, Captain Paul Ramaloko, says they hit a house in Quigney just before midnight.

"The men were arrested during the early hours of the morning by the Hawks team in conjunction with crime intelligence and critical response team. The are suspected to be part of a syndicate which has been behind several cigarette hijacking incidents in the area. This type of arrest will bring some relief to the tobacco industry of South Africa" he said.


Ramaloko says police seized 500 thousand rand's worth of cigarettes and a vehicle.

They will appear in court on Monday.