A 33-year-old Ethiopian male was arrested and charged for dealing in illicit cigarettes and money laundering following a successful operation conducted by the Vala Umgodi Task Team in Waterval, Vhembe District, on 15 January 2025. The suspect made a brief appearance before Waterval Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 16 January 2025, and was remanded in custody until 23 January 2025 for further investigation.
At approximately 12:30, the operational team, which was conducting patrols around Ha-Mabobo village near the Elim complex (Hubyeni Complex), noticed a suspicious vehicle. Upon conducting a search, officers discovered that the vehicle was transporting over 40 cartons of illicit cigarettes with an estimated street value of R8 000. The suspect was immediately apprehended and led officers to a nearby house in Ha-Mabobo village.
Upon further investigation inside the house, officers uncovered R470 000 in cash, hidden under a bed, as well as a money-counting machine. The suspect was arrested on charges of Dealing in Illicit Cigarettes and Money Laundering. He was taken into custody at Waterval SAPS.
In addition to the arrests, the operation also led to the apprehension of two males for contravening immigration laws. The arrests took place at Bungeni village, where the suspects were found working illegally at a brickyard company. The company owner was issued a fine for employing illegal immigrants.
