SECUNDA – Drug traffickers caught during a police raid on a house in Toon van den Heever Street in which a drug lab was uncovered in 2015 have finally been sent to prison.
Nigerian national Henry Nwagu (38) and a South African woman, Noluvoyo Sali (32) were sentenced in the Balfour Regional Court on Friday 5 February to 27 years’ imprisonment and 25 years’ respectively.
The two, along with another Nigerian, Mr Arinze Collin Ngene, were arrested at the house in Toon van den Heever Street on 9 February 2015.
The Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation Secunda assisted by members of Secunda Crime Intelligence and the then Secunda bike squad found a fully equipped operational drug lab during the search and seizure operation.
According to Hawks spokesperson, Capt Dineo Sekgotodi, there were chemicals, ephedrine, weighing scales, fans, big fridges, cash and drugs valued to an estimated R380 000.
The total value of the equipment and chemicals was estimated at R1.5 million.
The trio remained in custody from 2015 to 2017 when only Sali was granted bail, pending sentencing.
Mr Ngene was found not guilty and released in 2019.
Nwagu was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment for the manufacturing of drugs, 15 years for dealing and being in the possession of drugs, and 12 months’ imprisonment on two counts of being an illegal immigrant.
He was found to be having two Lesotho and two Nigerian passports.
He will effectively serve 27 years in jail.
Sali was sentenced to 10 years for manufacturing drugs and 15 years’ imprisonment for dealing and possessing drugs.
She will be effectively remain in prison for 25 years.
Both accused were declared unfit to possess firearms . The court forfeited the cash and the equipment to the state.
The Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Maj-Genl Zodwa Mokoena applauded the team and Judiciary for the successful conviction and hope it will serve as an a warning to those who are still involved in such type of crimes.
