Two foreign nationals, Admasu Lachebo and Sallomo Terrefa, are expected to appear in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court in Mpumalanga for a formal bail application on charges relating to the possession of illicit cigarettes.
The pair, aged 35 and 43, were arrested in Mbombela two weeks ago after being found in possession of illicit cigarettes valued at more than R500 000.
Police say further investigations led them to a storage facility in White River, where additional illicit cigarettes were recovered, bringing the total value of the seizure to an estimated R2 million.
According to a SAPS statement, the arrests followed a lengthy surveillance operation after authorities received information about illegal activities at a storage facility in White River.
The statement says, “Police obtained a search warrant for the premises and monitored the facility while waiting for an opportunity to act after a delivery had been made. Information regarding the delivery was received on 4 June 2026. A multidisciplinary team comprising the Hawks’ Nelspruit-based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit, White River K9 unit and Divergent Operations monitored vehicle movements in the area.”
Police further say, “A Toyota Hilux was identified as one of the vehicles transporting the illicit cigarettes. The vehicle was followed and intercepted in Nelspruit on 5 June 2026. During the operation, police recovered 50 master cases of illicit cigarettes loaded in the vehicle, with an estimated value of more than R500 000. The two suspects were arrested at the scene.”
According to SAPS, further investigations led the team, accompanied by officials from the South African Revenue Service (SARS) Customs division and the Nelspruit Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC), to the storage facility in White River.
“At the facility, investigators recovered 87 master cases and 45 cartons of illicit cigarettes valued at more than R1.2 million. The total value of the illicit cigarettes recovered during the operation is estimated at close to R2 million,” SAPS added.
The accused are expected to appear before the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court for a formal bail application.
#sapsHAWKS [CLOSE TO R2 MILLION WORTH OF ILLICIT CIGARETTES RECOVERED IN MPUMALANGA]
Two foreign nationals aged 35 and 43 were intercepted in Nelspruit with 50 master cases of illicit cigarettes valued at more than half a million rand loaded in their Toyota Hilux on Friday… pic.twitter.com/XdrCGPU7lV
— SA Police Service
(@SAPoliceService) June 5, 2026
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