Shots Fired As South African Soldiers, Zimbabweans Arrested in Cigarette Smuggling Syndicate
n By Delicious Mathuthu n nn n Polokwane, South Africa - Five members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), including a female soldier, along with two undocumented Zimbabwean nationals, were arrested on Tuesday September 16 d
anostrofy By Delicious Mathuthu
Polokwane, South Africa - Five members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), including a female soldier, along with two undocumented Zimbabwean nationals, were arrested on Tuesday September 16 during a joint operation by the South African Police Services (SAPS) Limpopo Beitbridge Task Team, and South African Military Intelligence.
The arrests followed an incident earlier the same morning at Artonvilla, near the Limpopo River, where the suspects allegedly conspired to intercept and steal a consignment of illicit cigarettes being smuggled into South Africa from Zimbabwe.
In a statement, SAPS's Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba from the Limpopo Provincial Office said during the operation, shots were reportedly fired.
"Their arrests followed an incident earlier that morning at Artonvilla, along the first Malaladrift road near the Limpopo River.
"During the operation, shots were reportedly fired, forcing smugglers to abandon 24 boxes of illicit cigarettes.
"Six boxes were later found hidden inside a temporary military camp," he said.
The suspects, aged between 26 and 42, face charges of corruption, possession of illicit cigarettes, unlawful discharge of a firearm, and defeating the ends of justice.
They are expected to appear before the Musina Magistrate's Court on Thursday, 18 September 2025.
Limpopo Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, said corruption among the country's security forces is intolerable, praising the results of the operation.
"The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, praised the swift and coordinated action of the law enforcement teams, warning that corruption involving members entrusted with national security will not be tolerated," Brigadier Mashaba said.
