A Toyota Hilux has been officially forfeited to the State following its seizure in March 2018,when heroin worth R4.5 million was discovered hidden within a secret compartment inside the vehicle.
Supplied/Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi
The Mpumalanga High Court in Mbombela officially granted a forfeiture order for a seized Toyota Hilux used in drug trafficking. Heroin worth R4.5 million was concealed in the vehicle and intercepted by Hawks officers on the N4. While one suspect has absconded,investigations into the vehicle’s ownership and links to organised crime continue.
A Toyota Hilux valued at R270 000 has been officially forfeited to the State following its seizure in March 2018,when heroin worth R4.5 million was discovered hidden within a secret compartment in the vehicle.
The forfeiture order was granted by the Mpumalanga High Court in Mbombela on Wednesday after the Hawks’ Asset Forfeiture Investigation Unit made an application.
The vehicle was initially intercepted by Hawks officers on the N4,shortly after the Nkomazi Toll Plaza,en route to Nelspruit.
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According to Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi,police acted on information from a whistleblower and stopped the vehicle,which was occupied by two individuals: a Malawian national driving the car and a South African passenger.
“Both occupants were arrested and later released on bail,” Nkosi said.
“The Malawian national has since absconded,and the case against the South African national was provisionally withdrawn,pending the rearrest of his accomplice.”
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Nkosi said further investigation into the vehicle’s ownership led to a dead end at a non-existent address,although records indicated it was registered to a Pakistani national.
Brigadier Danie Hall,acting provincial head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in Mpumalanga,reaffirmed that assets acquired through criminal activities would be forfeited to the state.
“The Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team will continue their criminal probe in relation to this case,” Hall said.
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