Alleged ex-Springs Boys’ High School learner arrested for drug smuggling
A man from Benoni-Boksburg region was arrested in London on November 21.
The man is an alleged ex-Springs Boys’ High learner, is accused of smuggling drugs with a street value of R13-million into the United Kingdom (UK) by hiding it in cats’ cages.
The accused worked at a pet relocation company and he allegedly transported three cats for clients of the company, when the cages were found to have false bottoms where a combined weight of 15kg of heroin was discovered.
The accused has been charged with importing a class ‘A’ drug into the UK.
He is currently still in custody in the Uxbridge Magistrates Court in the UK and appeared in Isleworth Crown Court today.
The man’s employer says the company is in no way involved in the alleged smuggling and arrest of the accused.
“It is our conclusion that he has been framed for a crime he did not commit, we endeavour each day to prove his innocence and clear his name as well as that of the company as none of the parties are involved.”
She adds that the man is a responsible, kind and giving individual who concentrates all his time for work and family and has no history of any criminal nature and would never place himself or his family in a situation of this nature.
“He has been in my employ since April 2012 and has always been a dedicated employee,” she says.
His employer says he has never had a history of any illegal activities to her knowledge.
“My employee left South African soil on November 19 and was thus already in the UK prior to the collection and transportation of the cats in question that only departed SA on November 20.
He has therefore already been in the UK for an entire day.”
She adds that it would not have been possible for him to tamper with the travel containers or to plant such materials in them and that he had no contact with the travel container prior to his departure.
According to his employer, on check-in of the said cats at the airline, their weight corresponded with normal weight and showed no signs of the alleged additional 5kg per box.”
“We do believe that it is a possibility that the target was in fact our company with the intention and attempt of closing us down due to our rapid growth in the market, although we have no means of proving this statement.”
She says they do not know how the UK legal procedure works or what the purpose of the hearing is, but that they will probably have an answer to the verdict tomorrow.
