A Zimbabwean national has been found guilty of possession of illicit cigarettes by South Africa’s Musina Magistrate’s Court.
According to South African police, Tatenda Mashaire (34), was arrested in January after a tip-off about illicit cigarettes that were kept at a house at Malale Village in the Tshamutumbu policing area.
Limpopo spokesperson for the South African Police Services’ Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), Captain Matimba Maluleke said:
On January 21 a sting operation by members of the Hawks’ serious commercial crime investigation in collaboration with crime intelligence and South African National Defence Force (SANDF) was conducted resulting in the arrest of the accused and seizure of boxes containing Remington Gold cigarettes worth R43 684.
Mashaire, who is a Zimbabwean national, appeared in the Musina Magistrate’s Court and entered into a plea agreement with the State.
Mashaire was sentenced to R40 000 fine or alternatively 24 months imprisonment.
Half of the fine and as well as the jail term was suspended for a period of five years on the condition that she is not convicted of a similar offence during the period of suspension.