The man was among three suspects who were arrested during a Hawks raid at a narcotics warehouse in Magna Via in 2018.
POLOKWANE – The Limpopo High Court, Division Polokwane on Monday (January 17) sentenced a convicted drug dealer to eight years’ imprisonment.
Magome Andries Motale (33) was arrested in 2018 during an intelligence-driven operation conducted by Hawk’s Serious Organised Crime Investigation members.
Hawks spokesperson Captain Matimba Maluleke explained that on August 31 the Hawks received information abut a narcotics warehouse at a premises in the city. “A rented room was identified at a storage facility in Magna Via.”
Maluleke said a search warrant was executed and in the room the members found narcotics, such as nyaope and heroin. “While the Hawks members were still conducting their search, the accused in the matter (Motale), along with two other men in their 20s, arrived on the scene in a blue Citi Golf.”
All three occupants were immediately detained and the vehicle was searched.
“In the vehicle the members found drugs as well as the key to the identified storage room.”
The total value of the drugs seized during this operation amounted to R2m, he added.
Motale and his co-accused were arrested and charged for dealing in drugs. His co-accused were later acquitted of all charges.
At the time of the arrest Maluleke said the Hawks want to close all drugs taps in the province and that they were delighted to have made such a discovery.
Motale was found guilty and sentenced in terms of the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act 140 of 1992. Attempts made by his defence attorney to appeal the sentence were unsuccessful, Maluleke concluded.
