A 51-year-old man from Lenasia has received a five-year prison sentence, wholly suspended for five years, after being found guilty of contravening the Customs and Excise Act following the discovery of more than R71 000 worth of undeclared cigarettes during a police operation in Protea Glen.
Mohamed Seedad appeared in the Protea Magistrates’ Court, where he was sentenced after admitting to the offence.
The case stems from an Operation Shanela roadblock conducted on 5 April 2024 on Impala Road in Protea Glen, Soweto. During a search of Seedad’s vehicle, law enforcement officers uncovered eight boxes containing 331 cartons of cigarettes with a customs value exceeding R71 000.
The tobacco products were confiscated and later forfeited to the State. Investigators established that they had not been declared as required under the Customs and Excise Act, resulting in criminal charges being brought against Seedad.
Senior State Advocate Phumlani Ntshangase argued that customs-related crimes continue to threaten South Africa’s customs and tax regulatory framework.
“Offences of this nature are prevalent and have a direct impact on the country’s customs and tax regulatory system. Sentences imposed in these matters should serve as an effective deterrent to those who seek to violate the law,” said Ntshangase.
After considering both the seriousness of the matter and Seedad’s personal circumstances, the magistrate imposed a five-year prison sentence, wholly suspended for five years.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said the outcome demonstrates its ongoing commitment to working with law enforcement agencies to combat customs-related crimes, hold offenders accountable, and protect South Africa’s fiscal and regulatory systems.
