The smuggling of cigarettes from Zimbabwe into South Africa continues despite the efforts of the police and the border authorities to curb the illegal trade. According to a report by the Atlantic Council, the illicit tobacco trade in Zimbabwe and South Africa supports organized crime, corruption, and erodes state structures. The report also states that the illicit tobacco trade is a major feature of the political economy of both countries, and that it has been linked to the ‘state capture’ scandals that rocked South Africa between 2013 and 2018.
The ban on tobacco sales in South Africa, which was imposed in March 2020 as a measure to prevent the spread of Covid-19, has only increased the demand for smuggled cigarettes from Zimbabwe. The Guardian² reported that smugglers have been using various methods to cross the border, such as crawling through broken sections of the fence, hiring trucks, or risking crocodile attacks by crossing the Limpopo River on foot or by boat. The smugglers then sell the cigarettes under the counter in shops or from their homes, using WhatsApp groups to market their products.
The South African police have intensified their patrols along the border, in collaboration with the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), and have arrested several suspects and confiscated contraband worth millions of rands. However, the illicit trade is still thriving, as evidenced by the recent crossfire shooting between the police and the smugglers along the N1 Highway on Sunday 27 August 2023. The police managed to arrest one suspect and seize illicit cigarettes worth R500 000 and two motor vehicles, but six other suspects managed to escape.
Source:
https://twitter.com/Abramjee/status/1696606484920938537?s=19
The police have appealed to the public to assist them in tracking down the fugitives and to report any information related to the illicit cigarette trade. They have also warned that anyone who is found in possession of illicit cigarettes will face charges of tax evasion and violation of immigration laws. The police have urged the public to refrain from buying or smoking illicit cigarettes, as they pose a health risk and undermine the economy.
Source:
https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-research-reports/issue-brief/the-illicit-tobacco-trade-in-zimbabwe-and-south-africa/.
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/jun/26/south-africa-tobacco-ban-greeted-with-cigarette-smuggling-boom.
https://bulawayo24.com/index-id-news-sc-local-byo-227674.html.
https://bulawayo24.com/index-id-news-sc-national-byo-233884.html.
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