Drugs syndicate receive eight-year jail term
Six members of an eight drug syndicate have been sentenced to eight (8) years imprisonment each by the Secunda Regional Court last week Thursday after they were convicted for dealing in drugs.
Patrick Chekwube Mbaxhu, Austine Onyebueke, Pastor Isaac, Kenneth Obina Okonkbo, Ernest Chikbuemeka Okoye and Boniface Ezeale were arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Unit on September 1, 2014, following months of intelligence project driven investigations where drugs valued at over R70 000 were seized.
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The group remained in custody following their arrest after the investigating team successfully opposed bail during the trial.
Meanwhile, two outstanding accused in this case, Kingsley Nwaduogu and Goodwill Ogudimma are yet to be convicted after their matter was postponed to 22 November 2018 for the appointment of a new legal counsel.
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During the sentencing procedure, the court considered over four years the six accused had already spent in custody. The accused have additionally been ordered to pay back over R60 000 into a Criminal Assets Recovery Account.
