More than R8 million in illicit cigarettes has been seized recently.
Police and other law enforcement agencies have seized more than R8.1 million worth of illicit cigarettes and arrested nine suspects in intelligence-driven operations across South Africa in recent weeks, while the Hawks and the South African Revenue Service (SARS) are investigating a suspected illicit ethanol storage facility in Gauteng.
This comes as government and industry intensify efforts to combat the illicit economy, warning that illegal trade is costing the fiscus billions in lost revenue, undermining legitimate businesses, distorting competition and threatening thousands of jobs.
Revenue from these activities has contributed to high-level corruption, political party funding, and other criminal endeavours, making the consequences of illegal cigarettes a concern for every South African, according to the Institute for Security Studies (ISS).
The latest police operation took place on Wednesday when the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit, based at its Pretoria headquarters, and SARS raided premises in Kempton Park identified as a storage facility for imported ethanol.
