From: Soweten
By Frank Maponya Limpopo Bureau Chief
A SUSPECTED syndicate of rogue policemen who allegedly colluded with an international cigarette-smuggling gang were arrested this week.
Nineteen policemen were arrested by a special task team comprising members of Crime Intelligence and detectives investigating the involvement of police in distributing illegal cigarettes.
The group consisted of six warrant officers and 13 constables from various stations in Limpopo.
Over the past year, 6728 cases of criminal and professional misconduct were filed against police officers with the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid).
Since April this year, the SAPS has dismissed 777 police officers for being involved in criminality.
Police commissioner General Riah Phiyega’s spokesman, Lieutenant-General Solomon Makgale, yesterday said the involvement of the group in criminal activities had been a subject of investigation for two years.
“We have gathered credible evidence against these officers. They were involved in escorting vehicles carrying illegal cigarettes from Zimbabwe in exchange for money,” he said.
