Tax Justice South Africa (TJSA) has called for stricter laws and harsher penalties against illicit cigarette trafficking following the sentencing of a 56-year-old foreign national to 13 years in prison in Limpopo.

The organisation said the conviction should serve as a turning point in the country’s fight against organised tax crime and the illicit tobacco trade, which it claims is costing South Africa billions of rand in lost revenue every year.

The accused, Toni Nathaniel Gumbo, was convicted by the Polokwane Commercial Crimes Court on charges linked to possession of illicit cigarettes and violations of the Immigration Act.

Police intercepted him on the R516 near Tuinplaas after receiving intelligence about a white Ford Ranger transporting illegal cigarettes from Musina to Gauteng.Officers discovered 36 master cases of Remington Gold cigarettes hidden inside boxes, with an estimated street value of R360,000.

TJSA leader Yusuf Abramjee praised the police tracking teams, prosecutors and the court for securing the conviction, but argued that current laws remain too weak to deter organised syndicates involved in tax crime.He said fines are ineffective because many criminal networks move profits offshore and continue operating despite financial penalties.

The organisation is advocating for mandatory minimum prison sentences for major tax offenders, lifetime bans preventing convicted individuals from operating businesses, and expanded powers for authorities to seize assets connected to illicit trade.

The case comes amid increased concern over illicit cigarette smuggling in South Africa, especially after police in Gauteng recently confiscated an estimated R3.7 million worth of suspected illicit cigarettes during a separate intelligence-driven operation.

TJSA also criticised authorities for failing to act decisively on allegations raised in the Gold Mafia investigation involving money laundering and illegal tobacco operations.