The Western Cape South African Police Service confirmed the arrest of two men for being in possession of khat and illicit cigarettes worth nearly R2-million on Friday afternoon, 24 July.
In a statement, the police said the suspects were also in contravention of the Disaster Management Act due to the ban on sales of cigarettes and tobacco products. Police spokesperson Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana said while investigating an unscheduled stop by his truck in Arcadia Road in Joostenbergvlakte, Cape Town, the truck owner spotted three suspects in a VW Caddy offloading boxes from the truck.
“The suspects fled on foot upon his arrival. SAPS were notified and a search of the truck and the VW Caddy were conducted.” Rwexana said the police seized 298 bundles of khat valued at R17,880 and 32,000 packets of cigarettes valued at R1,92-million.“While still on the scene, a 54-year-old suspect was stopped by police, and further investigation led to his arrest as he was implicated in the crime.