With illicit cigarettes worth over R12 million, smugglers thought of a perfect plan to not get caught. They used a gas tanker to transport their stash. For a moment, it seemed like their plan had worked. 

CAUGHT IN THE ACT

The suspects managed to travel with the illicit cigarettes from Musina to Marble Hall, a total of 349 kilometers without being caught. But the men who are all foreign nationals were caught red handed offloading the cigarettes from the gas tanker at a farm in Toitskraal outside Marble, Limpopo. It's suspected that the cigarettes are coming from Zimbabwe.

TIP OFF 

Limpopo SAPS spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the six suspects were cornered after police received information about a group of men who were seen offloading illicit cigarettes from a gas tanker which is something unusual for cargo trucks. "The cigarettes, estimated to be around R12 million, were loaded into cargo trucks parked at one of the farms in Toitskraal,'' Ledwaba said. Ledwaba told ZiMoja that the police acted swiftly and managed to apprehend the suspects. It is further alleged that the gas tanker was being escorted by a white Toyota Auris while the two cargo trucks were reportedly from Gauteng.  The vehicles used to transport the consignment were confiscated by the police, "said Ledwaba. 

CHARGES

The suspects are facing charges of possession of suspected stolen goods and smuggling of illicit cigarettes into the Republic of South Africa from neighbouring countries. "Limpopo SAPS thanks the community for assisting the police with information that helped effect the arrests. This was a huge consignment, and the interception is commended, "said Ledwaba. The suspects alleged to be foreign nationals appeared briefly at the Marble Hall Magistrate court on Monday, but they will remain in custody pending their bail application