MBOMBELA – Last week Mpumalanga’s Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) had its largest cash seizure which also counted among the biggest seizures ever by the national unit.
More than R76 million and a Toyota Hilux were seized following the arrest of two Mozambicans at the Lebombo Border Post on Christmas Day last year. Mr Faizel Mamade Assane and Mr Amade Agy Abdulah were apprehended early that morning with US$997 422, €22 170 and R20 000 in their possession.
The cash was discovered in one of two custom-made hidden compartments in the Toyota Hilux, of which Assane was the owner. The compartment that contained the cash was designed in the loading bin of the Hilux. The other custom-made hidden compartment in the canopy of the Hilux was empty.
Also read: Suspects arrested at Lebombo for alleged money laundering
Assane and Abdulah are suspected of having been part of an international syndicate that smuggles bulk cash that represents the proceeds of unlawful activities.
The cash appears to have been destined for the Middle East via Oliver Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. Assane was issued with 11 Mozambican passports and Abdulah with five.
The evidence suggests that the cash and the Hilux constitute the proceeds of unlawful activities or were used as instruments to commit the following offences: various contraventions of the Customs and Excise Act; fraud; money laundering in contravention of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (Poca); contraventions of the Currency
and Exchange Act and the Exchange Control Regulations; contraventions of the Banks’ Act and contravening the provisions of Section 36 of the General Law Amendment Act which criminalises the possession of suspected stolen property.
“The facts of the case are consistent with a particular modus operandi that is adopted by suspects who smuggle illicit bulk cash in and through South Africa and out of the country from, in particular, the OR Tambo International Airport.
“The AFU filed an expert affidavit as part of its application to the Pretoria High Court wherein the court was enlightened about illicit bulk cash smuggling in and through South Africa,” said National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Mr Luvuyo Mfaku.
The Pretoria High Court granted a preservation of property order to the provincial unit on Tuesday and the cash with a total value of R76 725 714,76 and the Toyota Hilux were seized.
Assane and Abdulah appeared in the Barberton Magistrate’s Court on Friday for the mentioned offences and their criminal case was postponed to May 27 for further investigation.
“The police, South African Revenue Service and the AFU are committed to combat organised crime, especially illicit bulk cash smuggling. The AFU will subsequently lodge another High Court application for the forfeiture of the cash and the Hilux to the state. The provisions of Poca are a very effective tool in addressing these types of crimes,” Mfaku concluded.
