Hawks secure court order for vehicle used to ferry R6m drugs

THE Hawks and  the National Prosecuting Authority's Asset Forfeiture Unit scored a major victory when they were granted a preservation order for a vehicle they seized in a multi-million drug bust near Strand. 

Hawks spokesperson Siyabulela Vukubi said the Hyundai H1 which was estimated to be valued at R138 600.00 was seized as it was used as an instrumentality.  

“This was after members of the Hawks' South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau(SANEB) acted on intelligence received on 23 August 2024, regarding a Hyundai H1 that was transporting drugs from Gauteng to Cape Town. The vehicle was spotted on the N2 near Strand towards Cape Town. Upon search,  71 000 mandrax tablets and  14  bricks of cocaine   weighing 14kg were found concealed in panels of the vehicle,” he said. 

According to Vukubi, the drugs were estimated at R 6 841 120. 

Hugo Madlot and Hope Nosipho Cindi are currently out on R15 000 bail each and will return to court on July 7.

Meanwhile, Western Cape police say the arrest of 150 suspects for drug related offences in the Garden Route District points to the success of their  crime fighting operations in the province. 

Police spokesperson Christopher Spies said the operation began on June 17  and concluded with the arrest of 11 suspects for dealing in drugs and 139 for the possession of illicit drugs on Sunday.

“The police confiscated 304 mandrax tablets, 87.67 gram tik, 11 gram mandrax powder, two gram cocaine and one gram cracked cocaine. A total number of 68 suspects were arrested and detained at police stations in Conville (23), Thembalethu (23), George (12) and Pacaltsdorp (10). The police also arrested suspects in Knysna (20), Oudtshoorn (17) and 19 others elsewhere.”

A targeted intelligence-driven operation led to the seizure of 115 mandrax tablets, 20 tik bankies and one R5 round  at a house on Circular Road, Parkdene in George on Friday.

Cape Times