Eight South African Police Services officers have been arrested in the neighbouring country on allegations of working with cross-border syndicates to smuggle quality cigarettes from Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
The eight were arrested on Wednesday in Lydenburg, Mpumalanga province and are facing charges of corruption, defeating the course of justice, conspiracy to commit a crime, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and kidnapping.
According to from South Africa, officers are accused of working with cross-border syndicates to ensure safe passage of illicit goods through the province.
Hawks spokesperson, Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said; “Their role is mostly to escort these vehicles. They are also involved in the selling of the illegal cigarettes but mostly it’s in terms of making sure these cigarettes have a safe pass through this area of Mpumalanga.”
Investigations into illegal cigarettes syndicates is widening to government officials including border personnel, according to reports.
The Hawks swooped on the cops at their offices and confiscated their service pistols and police badges.
“It is not only members of the police that are involved. We are of the belief that there are other government officials that are connected to this.
“It is critical for us to do a proper investigation in terms of making sure that we connect everyone,” Brig Mulaudzi said.
Last Friday, a 37-year-old smuggler from Harare was fined $3 000 after he was intercepted by police while smuggling a contraband of export quality cigarettes worth R1,1 million ($90 000) to South Africa through the Beitbridge Border Post.