Johannesburg – A 54-year-old man appeared in the Barkly West Magistrate's Court in the Northern Cape on Wednesday for being in possession of illicit cigarettes worth R1.4 million, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) said in a statement.
Hawks spokesperson Captain Philani Nkwalase said Barend Christopher Pretorius' case was referred to the Regional Court in Barkley West where the accused will appear on 16 March 2017.
"The Hawks promptly acted upon receiving a tip-off about a truck delivering suspected illicit cigarettes in Barkley West on 25 March 2015. The truck was spotted in Barkley West Industrial area. Upon conducting a search, 120 boxes of illicit cigarettes (sasha) were found hidden on it."
Nkwalase said that Pretorius was arrested on the scene, however the case was provisionally struck off the court role due to the outstanding statement from the owner of the truck as it had a Botswana registration number.
All investigations had now been finalised and the matter was put back on the court roll.