Mbuso Janvier Kikaranga (35), a Congolese citizen, was arrested by the Secunda Hawks on Sunday, June 19 in eMbalenhle and appeared in the Bethal Magistrate’s Court on charges of dealing in drugs on Monday, June 20.
This follows his arrest for being in possession of a stolen vehicle on Wednesday, June 15.
Kikaranga was additionally charged for his alleged involvement in a drug criminal group in the Bethal area, to which he was dubbed the main suspect and ringleader.
According to Lieut-Col Philani Nkwalase, a provincial spokesman for the Hawks, Kikaranga had been on the run since June 28 last year, during the takedown operation of “Dream On”.
“This operation was a project-driven investigation that led to the arrest of eleven (11) suspects involved in the criminal group that worked in a tandem arrangement that is distributing drugs to the community in the Bethal area.
“A warrant of arrest was issued against him for three counts of dealing in drugs which were added to a charge of possession of a stolen vehicle upon his arrest,” said Nkwalase.
Kikaranga first appeared in the Evander Magistrate’s Court for the possession of a stolen vehicle and then in the Bethal Magistrate’s Court on his warrant of arrest for dealing in drugs on Project Dream On.
The case against the Kikaranga was postponed to July 4 for a formal bail application.
Meanwhile, his accomplices are expected to appear on the same day at the Bethal Regional Court and Kikaranga will at a later stage appear alongside his alleged accomplices.
