Suspect, Anolt Tafa.
A foreign national, Anolt Tafa (49), appeared in the Musina Magistrates Court on Monday for the charges of the Contravention of Medicine Act and Related Substances as well as Customs and Excise Act.
He was remanded in police custody. According to the Hawks spokesperson in the province, Warrant Officer Lethunya Mmuroa, the police received intelligence about a truck traveling from Zimbabwe to South Africa loaded with prohibited cosmetic products (skin lightening creams).
A sting operation was conducted. The team searched for the said truck, and it was found abounded inside the SARS Customs’ import yard at Beitbridge Port of Entry. A vehicle was parked in front of that truck to prevent it from being moved. The operational members continued with observation.
On 20 September 2024, the driver went to the truck and was found asleep by the members. They requested the suspect to open the tarpaulin which he did. The following cosmetic products were found:
* 48 X boxes containing 144 items of Caro Light oil
* 1,614 X boxes containing 72 items of Caro Light Cream 120 ml
* 348 X boxes containing 48 items Caro Light Cream 300ml
* 300 X boxes containing 48 items of perfect White Cream 150 ml
* 280 X boxes containing 24 items of Perfect White Cream 300ml
The products were estimated to the value of over R960 000.
The driver was unable to produce valid documents as required by the officers. Preliminary established that no customs declaration documents were available for the consignment.
Tafa was arrested immediately. The case docket was registered at Musina police station and transferred to the Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation for further handling.
Both truck and prohibited cosmetic products were seized. The Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation is continuing investigations.
The Provincial Head of the Hawks in Limpopo Province Major General (Adv) Gopz Govender welcomed the arrest of the accused. He further stated that the Hawks will not sleep until the transnational crime is eliminated.