A 45-year-old man is scheduled to appear before the Giyani Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 26 February 2026, following his arrest for the possession of illicit cigarettes valued at approximately R570,000.
The suspect was apprehended on Tuesday, 24 February 2026, after police discovered the contraband in vehicles involved in a collision on the R81 Road outside Giyani.
According to police reports, members of the Giyani Visible Policing unit initially responded to a complaint regarding a motor vehicle accident. Upon arrival, they were informed that multiple vehicles traveling together had been involved in the crash.
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel who were first on the scene observed suspected illicit cigarettes inside one of the vehicles and immediately alerted the police.
When Visible Policing members, along with the Provincial Organised Crime Unit, arrived, they found three vehicles at the scene: a navy blue Volkswagen SUV and two white Toyota Corollas. It is believed that all three vehicles were linked and involved in the collision.
Three African male suspects were present at the scene. As officers approached the vehicles to begin their investigation, one suspect fled on foot. He remains at large, while the other two suspects stayed behind.
A subsequent search of the vehicles led to the recovery of a large quantity of illicit cigarettes. The contraband was found inside the navy blue Volkswagen SUV and one of the Toyota Corolla vehicles. The second Toyota Corolla was found empty; the driver of that vehicle alleged that he had only come to the scene to assist a relative involved in the crash.
The 45-year-old suspect was arrested and is expected to face charges related to the possession of illicit cigarettes. Police continue their search for the third suspect who fled the scene.