| Hawks secures conviction and confiscation order | |
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| Date Published: | 2023/10/13 |
| Description Details: | |
Media statement The Western Cape Hawks’ South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau (SANEB) team secured a confiscation order during sentencing. It is reported that on 4 August 2022 members of SANEB team together with members of Counter Narcotics and Gangs, Crime Intelligence followed up information regarding a truck possibly transporting drugs on the N1 towards Cape Town. The said vehicle was spotted at Winelands Engen garage towards Cape Town. The members conducted surveillance on the truck. It was followed to N1 City Mall where the two drivers got out and handed the truck to another person. The two original drivers stayed behind at N1 City Mall while another driver drove off with the truck. The team followed the truck. Due to suspicious movement by the driver the team decided to stop the truck on Jan Smuts Drive in Pinelands. The driver of the truck as well as the two other original drivers that were waiting at N1 City Mall were arrested after 672 blocks of cocaine was seized to the value of over R403 million. It was concealed in false wooden boards in the back of the truck. After further investigation, two more suspects were arrested. This led to a total of five suspects arrested. On 06 October 2023, accused 2 and 3 , Meshack Mzugezi Ngobese and Elias Radebe entered into a Section 105 A plea agreement of the CPA, Act 51of 1977 at Khayelitsha Priority Court and were sentenced as follows; six (6) and one (1) years respectively. On 13 October 2023, accused 1, Ebrahim Kara also entered into a Section 105A Plea agreement with the State and pleaded guilty on dealing in drugs and admitted in his agreement that the cocaine was destined to be sold. Had he succeeded to sell the drugs, he would have benefitted an amount of R2 million. Ebrahim Karra, was sentenced to fifteen (15) years imprisonment of which 7 years is suspended for a period of five (5) years, on condition that the accused is not convicted of the same offence during the period of his suspension. Kara, will effectively serve eight (8) years direct imprisonment. Furthermore a confiscation order was granted were R2 million rand was paid into the Criminal Asset Recovery Account (CARA). The Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Mathipa Makgato welcomed the sentence and mentioned that it will serve as a deterrent to other drug dealers. Ends
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