Customs officers raided 22 shops in Kempton Park, Pretoria, and Johannesburg during a joint operation between the revenue service, the department of home affairs, and police this week.
British America Tobacco South Africa (Batsa) said that an Ipsos study conducted in March showed that 74% of retail outlets in Gauteng, the Western Cape and the Free State were now openly selling illegal cigarettes.
The South African Revenue Service (Sars) said that various government departments fighting illegal imports and exports would destroy 12 million cigarettes at a warehouse on Cape Town's Foreshore.
Ngoepe said the 36-year-old police officer, stationed at the Apel police station, was handcuffed during a stop and search and was found to be in possession of 20 sachets of nyaope.
Authorities say they allegedly approached a lieutenant colonel and requested her to release a vehicle that wad transporting illicit cigarettes in return for R7,500.
Tobacco sales reopened on Tuesday for the first time since the COVID-19 lockdown was introduced in March. It led to growth in the sale of illicit brands on the black market, but today, store shelves have been restocked and some shops have sold out due to the demand.
Police said that preliminary reports suggested that this was part of a distribution network.
Maimela Mailula was dressed in his police uniform when he was pulled over by a colleague on Tuesday.
RG and Caesar, which currently go for around R10 per packet of 20, are selling more than legal brands.
Fawu spokesperson Dominique Martin says the food, tobacco and cosmetics industry are losing money through sales of illegal counterfeit goods.
