South Africa: Lengthy Sentence for Zimbabwean National Convicted of Possession and Transporting of Illicit Cigarettes

10 September 2024
South African Police Service (Pretoria)
editorial

A Zimbabwean national, Sidalokuhle Ncube (45), has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term for possession and transporting of illicit cigarettes.

On 30 June 2024, police officers stopped a suspicious silver Toyota Corolla with Gauteng registration numbers on the R81 near a filling station. A search revealed 85 cartons of Remington Gold cigarettes, and Ncube was arrested. The vehicle and cigarettes were confiscated, and a case docket was opened at SAPS Sebayeng near Mankweng.

The Limpopo Provincial Organized Crime Investigation Unit took over the investigation, leading to Ncube's conviction at the Polokwane Regional Court for:

Contravening the South African Revenue Service Act, Income Tax Act, Value Added Tax Act, and Customs and Excise Act

Possession of illicit cigarettes (5 years' imprisonment)

Contravening the Immigration Act (2 years' imprisonment)

The accused was further declared unfit to possess a firearm.

Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, welcomed the sentencing, stating it would serve as a deterrent to other criminals involved in smuggling syndicates.

Read the original article on SAPS.

Tagged:
Copyright © 2024 South African Police Service. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

AllAfrica publishes around 600 reports a day from more than 110 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.