Johannesburg – A man was arrested while transporting a consignment of cigarettes without documentation in Sebenza, Ekurhuleni, on Wednesday, police said.

Chief Superintendent Wilfred Kgasago said contraband cigarettes worth R2.8 million were seized after the 42-year-old man led police to a rented warehouse he was taking the consignment to.

“A total of 807 half-master cases were found in the truck. Arriving at the suspect’s warehouse, metro police uncovered 97 more half-master boxes of cigarettes. A total of 907 boxes estimated to be worth approximately R2.8m were seized.”

Officials of the SA Revenue Service and the Tobacco Institute of Southern Africa were called to inspect the confiscated cargo and to determine its source.

The man, who has dual citizenship in Zimbabwe and South Africa, was expected to appear in the Edenvale Magistrate’s Court soon.

He would face a charge of possession of contraband cigarettes.

Sapa