Letsatsi Selikoe 

THE Revenue?Services?Lesotho (RSL), in collaboration with the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS), have seized 103 320 illicit cigarettes as part of “Operation Osalama”. 

The operation, conducted this past week, targeted street vendors in Maseru in an effort to enforce compliance with tobacco importation regulations. 

According to a press release issued by the RSL on Friday, the confiscated cigarettes, valued at M413 280, included various popular brands: 66 980 sticks of Boss, 9720 of Red and Black, 6200 of Ossum, 9800 of Chief, 4640 of Malimbo, 5200 of Sahawi, 600 of RG, and 180 of Chairman. 

The seized cigarettes were smuggled into the country without the necessary declarations or excise duties. These counterfeit products, typically sold by street vendors for less than M20 per pack, significantly undermine licensed retailers who comply with regulations. The illicit trade not only damages the legal tobacco market but also poses a serious threat to public health and reduces tax revenues. 

In the statement, the RSL urged traders and individuals to refrain from importing counterfeit goods and highlighted the operation as part of its ongoing strategy to deter non-compliance. Previous confiscated contraband has been destroyed as part of RSL’s commitment to uphold the law and ensure public safety. 

“The operation is part of our ongoing strategy to deter non-compliance and ensure that all tobacco products meet our regulatory standards,” the statement read. 

The RSL stressed the importance of maintaining fair competition in the market and protecting consumers from potentially harmful products. 

“The joint efforts of the RSL and LMPS during Operation Osalama underscore the collaborative approach needed to combat the pressing issue of smuggling in Lesotho. The RSL also encouraged community vigilance and cooperation in reporting illegal activities, stressing that the fight against smuggling is a collective responsibility. 

“As the RSL continues to intensify its enforcement actions, it remains committed to promoting adherence to import regulations and safeguarding the interests of responsible traders and consumers.”