Maliki Erick Ngobeni (45) appeared in the Pongola Regional Court on July 22, where he was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for dealing in drugs.
The conviction comes a little more than two years after Ngobeni’s arrest on May 4, 2017, when he was found to be in possession of 145 bags of heroin, with a street value of approximately R101-million.
It began with a tip-off to members of the Hawks at the Richards Bay Serious Organised Crime Unit, that Ngobeni was headed towards Pongola.
Local police were alerted and Ngobeni’s vehicle was intercepted on the N2 near Sitilo, with a search revealing their illegal ‘cargo’.
Ngobeni and his two passengers were immediately placed under arrest.
Further investigation by the Hawks revealed the drugs were possibly from Mozambique – destined for Johannesburg – and Ngobeni was likely the mastermind behind the trafficking operation.
In court, bail was opposed and after several appearances, Ngobeni was found guilty and jailed.
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