The South African Police Service (SAPS) on Thursday seized five vehicles and cigarettes worth more than R400 000 and arrested 11 of the suspected Zimbabwean smugglers.
The smuggling convoys had 10 vehicles in total and five of the vehicles escaped.
Following a high-speed car chase with the help of a farm watch, SAPS officers nabbed seized five vehicles and arrested 11 suspects.
Limpopo police spokesperson, Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo confirmed the arrests. He said:
The intensification of intelligence-driven operations to prevent the smuggling of illicit cigarettes into the country led to the arrest of 11 suspects, the seizure of illicit cigarettes and five of the 10 motor vehicles that were transporting them along the Piesanghoek road in the early hours of Thursday, 9 February 2023.
Members of the Limpopo tracking team and Capricorn highway patrol operationalised information received about 10 motor vehicles which were smuggling illicit cigarettes from Zimbabwe to South Africa.
The vehicles were driven in a convoy on the N1 road from Musina in the direction of Louis Trichardt.
According to Brigadier Mojapelo, the security team caught up with them along the Piesanghoek Road where they had detoured to avoid police.
When they saw the police, the Zimbabweans sped off and a high-speed chase ensued.
Five vehicles were then cornered with the help of members of the Louis Trichardt Farm Watch but the other five managed to escape. Said Brig Mojapelo:
The cornered group tried to engage in a fistfight with Farm Watch members but they were ultimately subdued and apprehended. The five vehicles were found loaded with cigarettes.
All 11 suspects were found to be undocumented Zimbabweans.
Brig Mojapelo said police had seized two BMWs, a Ford Territory, a Nissan Pathfinder, and an Audi A4 and 31 crate-boxes and 407 packs of cigarettes at an estimated value of R426 640.
The suspects, aged between 24 and 43, are expected to appear before a Louis Trichardt magistrate soon charged with dealing with and possession of illicit cigarettes, contravention of the Immigration Act and resisting arrest.
The drivers will also be charged with reckless and negligent driving and driving a motor vehicle without a driving licence.