Zimbabwe women held for smuggling cigarettes

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Two Zimbabwean women have been arrested for smuggling counterfeit cigarettes valued at R40 000 in Musina, Limpopo police said on Sunday.

Superintendent Mohale Ramatseba said police who stopped the two women during a crime prevention operation on Saturday confiscated 300 boxes containing the cigarettes and R600 000 in cash.

"We suspect the money was generated through the selling of the smuggled cigarettes," he said.

Fifty-four other people were arrested in the area over the weekend for crimes including possession of dagga, driving without licenses, reckless and negligent driving, and for drinking and urinating in public.

"Licensed and unlicensed liquor outlets were raided and most people were found drinking outside the liquor outlets in contravention of the Liquor Act," Ramatseba said.

All arrested people, except the two Zimbabwean women and drunk drivers have paid admission of guilt fines ranging from R100 to R1000.

The two women and four motorists caught driving while drunk were expected to appear in the Musina Magistrate's Court on Monday.