South African National Intelligence Agency operatives have infiltrated a local multi-billion-rand crime syndicate smuggling counterfeit cigarettes from Zimbabwe.

Alleged kingpins of the syndicate are now being hunted down by the NIA, the South African Revenue Services and various other agencies, but no high-profile arrests have yet been made.
This follows the seizure of two shipping containers of counterfeit cigarettes at Durban harbour on Tuesday this week. A source said the consignment of 40,850 cartons was ostensibly destined for Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, but had been intercepted at a Spoornet holding area in Bayhead, Durban harbour, and not the container port, where it should have been if it were to have been shipped out of the country. (pi)