KEY POINTS
- Five defendants received legal punishments for drug trafficking crimes together with immigration violations in Limpopo.
- The Hawks investigation team proved the suspects were selling crystal meth by their findings.
- Each prison sentence varies between three years to ten years and also the convicted face additional consequences for breaking immigration laws.
Law enforcement officials sentenced five men in Limpopo province for both drug trafficking and illegal immigration according to South African immigration laws.
The Musina Regional Court executed the verdicts on Monday after extensive investigation by the Hawks.
Drug trafficking operation uncovered
Warrant Officer Lethunya Mmuroa who serves as the Hawks provincial spokesperson disclosed the five men were recognized after law enforcement obtained a tip regarding illegal drug activities in Musina during 2021.
The Hawks through the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation managed to trace the suspects until they uncovered their operational base during the investigation.
The convicted individuals are:
– Eze Chekuebwe Aloicios, 42
– Chimankpam Prosper Ashame, 53
– Dube Lebang David, 40
– Chigozie Henry Okoro
– Okeke Peter Richard, 52
The serious organized crime unit based in Musina and Thohoyandou tactical response team jointly conducted the arrest operation against these suspects on November 11, 2021. The investigation further proved the participants were distributing crystal meth.
Sentences handed down
These men received different criminal punishments from the court system:
Eze Chekuebwe Aloicios received an eight-year sentence because he violated the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act followed by two additional years due to a violation of the Immigration Act.
– Chimankpam Prosper Ashame: Seven years for drug-related offenses, with an additional two years for immigration violations.
Chigozie Henry Okoro received a drug trafficking sentence of three years.
– David Lebang Dube: Seven years for drug-related charges.
The court sentenced Richard Peter Okeke to seven years for drug trafficking and also followed it with two years for his immigration offenses.
Throughout the entire process from 2021 arrest to final conviction and sentencing the three defendants stayed confined inside the prison system without receiving bail release.
Hawks welcome conviction
Hawks provincial leader in Limpopo Major-General Gopz Govender praised the judgments while underscoring his support for stopping drug rings within the province. Major-General Gopz Govender showed his approval of the investigative teams who made sure justice was delivered.
