Bangladeshi national in Court after R1.5 million illicit cigarette bust in Mpumalanga

A 45-year-old Bangladeshi national has appeared in the Nelspruit Magistrates’ Court for possession of illicit cigarettes worth R1.5 million.
He was arrested during a Hawks-led operation in West Acres, where boxes of untaxed cigarettes were seized from his supermarket.
Authorities say the bust is a major breakthrough in the fight against illegal trade that costs South Africa millions in lost revenue.

A 45-year-old foreign national from Bangladesh has appeared before the Nelspruit Magistrates’ Court after he was found in possession of illicit cigarettes valued at R1.5 million.

The man, who is reportedly in South Africa under temporary asylum status, was arrested during a joint operation conducted by the Hawks in West Acres, Nelspruit, on Thursday, 23 October 2025.

Mpumalanga police spokesperson Magonseni Nkosi said the operation followed intelligence-driven information that led the Hawks to a local supermarket owned by the suspect.

“Master boxes containing various brands of illicit cigarettes were recovered from the suspect’s store. The foreign national could not produce proof of purchase or tax documentation,” Nkosi said.

The suspect has been charged with contravention of the Customs and Excise Act, as well as possession, distribution, and sale of illicit cigarettes.

Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in Mpumalanga, Major General Nico Gerber, commended the officers involved, noting that the illegal trade of untaxed products continues to cost South Africa significant revenue losses.

“The Hawks commend the teamwork that resulted in this major breakthrough. The country is losing revenue due to illicit products that are illegally smuggled and sold in South Africa,” Gerber said.