Times Of Swaziland: SOLDIERS CONFISCATE E980 000 BOOZE, CIGARETTES, OTHERS

SOLDIERS CONFISCATE E980 000 BOOZE, CIGARETTES, OTHERS
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BY SIBUSISO ZWANE on 14/08/2020 02:17:00


MANZINI - During the first month of the ban of alcohol sale in the country,
soldiers have confiscated E980 156 items which were smuggled into and out of the
country, including alcohol and cigarettes.
The military men also controlled a total of 113 illegal immigrants (Mozambicans)
and four illegal emigrants (emaSwati). All the immigrants and emigrants were
controlled along the country’s borderline near Lomahasha, in the Lubombo
Region.
It is worth noting that the borderline along Lomahasha separates the Kingdom of
Eswatini and Mozambique, where most of the illegal alcoholic beverages and
cigarettes which are sold in the country’s black market, come from.
Figures
The above figures are contained in the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF)
report for July 2020, which was issued by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of
the army, Lieutenant Tengetile Khumalo, yesterday. According to the report,
contrabands, which include alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, clothes and other
items, which were confiscated by the military men manning the country’s
borderline, were valued at E559 516. 32.
During the first week of July, according the PRO’s report, the soldiers
confiscated contrabands valued at E123 660. 93, while in the second week, they
controlled items amounting to E189 750.52. Meanwhile, during the third week of
the month under review, the report reflects that the soldiers controlled
contrabands amounting to E71 740.18 while in the last week, the items
confiscated were valued at E174 363.69.
It is worth noting that according to the report, the alcohol brands that were
confiscated included Soldier Whiskey, Hankey Bannister Whiskey, Gordon’s
London Dry Gin, Heineken, Castle Lite and Mac Mahon beer. On the other hand, it
said the majority of the types of cigarettes were GT, Peter Stuyvesant and
Dunhill.
Also, the report said during the month under review, the military man also
managed to control dagga valued at E420 641 along the country’s borderline.
During the first week of July 2020, the report revealed that the soldiers
controlled dagga valued at E55 675, while in the second week; they confiscated
the illegal herb amounting to E257 156.
“During the third and fourth week of the month under review, dagga valued at
E65 315 and E42 495 was controlled respectively,” reads part of the report.
The illegal herb was controlled being smuggled out of the country along the
country’s borderline in the four regions; Manzini, Hhohho, Lubombo and
Shiselweni.
Borderline
In terms of illegal immigrants and emigrants, the army’s PRO report said 117
were controlled along the country’s borderline. Out of the 117, 113 were
illegal immigrants and they were Mozambicans by nationality, while only four
were emigrants and they were emaSwati.It said 14 Mozambicans were controlled
during the first week of the month under review, while 40 were arrested during
the second week. It further said, during the third week, 41 illegal immigrants
and three illegal emigrants were arrested, while on the final week of the month,
18 illegal immigrants and only one illegal emigrant was controlled.
Once more, the report said during the month, only one car, a Nissan bakkie, was
controlled while being smuggled into the country at Sicunusa. It said the matter
was handed over to Gege Police Station. The report stated the soldiers also
managed to control three goats, which were smuggled from the country to the
neighbouring South Africa near Nsubane and the matter was handed over to
Lavumisa Police Station.
Moreover, the PRO thanked all troops for their hard work in combating border
crimes. She also urged the soldiers to continue working tenaciously and
diligently in all operations, for the betterment of the defence force and the
nation at large. She mentioned that all the items they controlled were handed
over to the nearest police stations, while others were taken to the Eswatini
Revenue Authority (SRA).