Police confiscated 339 boxes of cigarettes and more than 15 000 loose cigarette packets during a Boshof operation, with the seized goods estimated to be worth R3.6 million.
Image: Supplied/ SAPS
Police in the Free State have seized illicit cigarettes worth an estimated R3.6 million and arrested three men during an intelligence-driven operation in Boshof, Free State.
The operation was carried out by members of the Bloemfontein K9 Unit and Provincial Crime Intelligence after police received information about the distribution of illegal goods.
Free State police spokesperson Sergeant Palesa Thabana said the information was operationalised on Friday, after members received information about the suspected illicit cigarette trade.
''The team confiscated a substantial quantity of illicit cigarettes in the Boshof Central Business District (CBD),'' Thabana said.
Police first searched a supermarket in the Boshof central business district, where boxes containing counterfeit cigarettes were allegedly found hidden underneath a bed.
The team then proceeded to a second identified address in Voortrekker Street, where they encountered resistance from suspects before gaining entry to a warehouse.
Police discovered more boxes containing illegal cigarettes inside the warehouse.
''Three males aged 22, 44 and 56 were subsequently arrested for possession of counterfeit cigarettes. They are also facing charges for the contravention of the illegal immigrations act,'' said Thabana.
Thabana said police confiscated 339 boxes of cigarettes and more than 15,000 loose cigarette packets during the operation.
The suspects are expected to appear in the Boshof Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
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