AUTHORITIES have questioned why a Richards Bay police officer, who was caught smuggling more than 70 000 counterfeit cigarettes in a police van last month, is back at work.
Warrant Officer Nelson Nyawo (42), who faces charges of being in possession of illicit cigarettes in terms of Custom and Excise Act, was released on R2 000 bail last month.
However, the Zululand Observer has learned that the police officer, who is stationed at the Richards Bay Operational Response Service Harbour, has returned to duty and has not been placed on precautionary suspension pending the outcome of the case.
‘He is still at work in civilian clothing. He should have been suspended. Instead, he is sitting in on all police meetings detailing police operations and intelligence. The vehicle, in which the counterfeit cigarettes were found, has also been returned to him,’ a top source told the Zululand Observer.
The police officer, together with co-accused, Maria Sibiya (35), was nabbed at Siteza on the N2 southbound in May following a high speed chase with police.
Led by members of Crime Intelligence Empangeni, police followed a tip-off that a SAP marked vehicle without a front number plate was transporting a stash of illegal cigarettes from eManguzi to Durban.
Chasing the state vehicle, Crime Intelligence requested back-up from the KwaMsane Tactical Response Team and intercepted the bakkie at Siteza.
On searching the van, police found nine boxes containing illicit cigarettes to the street value of more than R100 000. The 350 of 200 cigarette cartons were wrapped in black plastic packets.
A police state pistol was recovered as well as the state vehicle. The police bakkie had reportedly been booked out for an ‘investigation’ far north.
The arrest was commended by Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni and was said to be part of a bigger syndicate involving the smuggling of cigarettes from the Mozambican border into KZN.
Police had been tracking the arrested policeman for almost a year.
Police spokesperson Colonel Jay Naicker was unable to respond to media queries at the time of going to print.
