The Hawks in Limpopo arrested five men, and they were convicted on charges including drug trafficking and contravening the Immigration Act.
Image: File
Five drug dealers have been convicted and sentenced in Limpopo for drug-related offences and contravention of South Africa’s Immigration Act.
Provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, Warrant Officer Lethunya Mmuroa said five men were convicted by the Musina Regional Court on Monday.
The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks, listed the convicted men as Eze Chekuebwe Aloicios, 42; Chimankpam Prosper Ashame, 53; Dube Lebang David, 40; Chigozie Henry Okoro; and Okeke Peter Richard, 52.
“During 2021, the Musina-based Hawks serious organised crime investigation (unit) received a tip-off about suspicious people who were dealing in illicit drugs around Musina. The investigation was launched and the Hawks managed to identify accused, and the address of their operations,” said Mmuroa.
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The accused men were arrested during a take-down operation conducted by the Musina-based Hawks serious organised crime unit and the Thohoyandou-based tactical response team (TRT) on November 11 2021 at Musina.
“The Hawks investigations established that the accused were dealing in crystal meth drugs. The accused applied for bail several times, which was denied,” said Mmuroa.
He said the five drug dealers have been in custody from the time they were arrested in 2021 until their conviction and sentencing this week.
The court handed down the following sentences:
Eze Chekuebwe Aloicios was sentenced to eight years in jail after being convicted for contravening the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act. Aloicios was also convicted for contravening the Immigration Act and he was sentenced to an additional two years behind bars.
Chimankpam Prosper Ashame was also found guilty on two counts contravening the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act and he was sentenced to seven years imprisonment. Ashame was also convicted for contravention of the Immigration Act and was sentenced to an additional two years imprisonment.
Chigozie Henry Okoro was also found guilty of contravening the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act, and was sentenced to three years imprisonment.
David Lebang Dube was found guilty on two counts of contravening the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act and was sentenced to seven years imprisonment.
Richard Peter Okeke was guilty on two counts of breaching the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act and sentenced to seven years.
He was also convicted of contravening the Immigration Act, and sentenced to an additional two years imprisonment.
Meanwhile, provincial head of the Hawks in Limpopo, Major-General Gopz Govender has welcomed the conviction of the five drug dealers, and their sentencing.
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jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za
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