Produced by Godknows Nare, January 26, 2012
Special Assignment brings you a fascinating and scary expose on the world of tobacco mules. A small but organised and significant part of the illegal tobacco smuggling business. It thrives on transporting small consignments of illegal tobacco from Zimbabwe to South Africa using various routes and modes of transport.
For the carriers this is a means of survival where they experience high levels of exploitation. But for the dealers, this business can be lucrative. The mules travel mostly at night and sometimes cross the Limpopo River despite the potential dangers involved, just to be able to get their share of the trade. Putting their lives at risk, they face constant danger in the form of border gangs, crocodiles and arrests by law enforcement authorities.
Illegal tobacco smuggling continues to be a concern in the country with the state losing about R3 billion in tax revenue and the legitiimate industry is also suffering about the same losses.
Every Thursday – Special Assignment on SABC 3 at 9pm
How are the mules able to successfully cross the border without being caught and should the state increase its efforts in curbing illegality in this controversial but lucrative industry?
For more information:Special Assignment office: (011) 714-6757/8Acting Executive Producer: Busisiwe Ntuli: 083 346 7291Co-ordinator: Menatalie Van Rooyen: 083 241 7670
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