The South African Police Service in Welkom has arrested a 57-year-old foreign national in possession of suspected counterfeit cigarettes.
The arrest was made by the Welkom K9 Unit on Tuesday, 18 August.
In a statement, the police said, “On Tuesday, members attached to the Welkom K9 Unit received information about suspected illegal cigarettes that are being transported to an identified house in Welkom. Information was operationalised and led police to a house in Jim Fouchè Park, Welkom.”
On arrival on the scene, entry was gained into the premises and police discovered a large quantity of boxes containing suspected illicit cigarettes.
The operation was conducted by members of the Bloemfontein K9 Unit and Provincial Crime Intelligence after police received information about the distribution of illegal goods.
Police first searched a supermarket in the CBD, where boxes of suspected counterfeit cigarettes were allegedly found hidden underneath a bed.
“Preliminary investigations were conducted and the cigarettes were confirmed to be counterfeit,” the police said.
Police seized the boxes of illicit cigarettes estimated to be valued at R6.2 million rands.
The arrested suspect will appear in the Welkom Magistrate’s Court soon.
