A 51-year-old Nigerian drug kingpin, Frank Onyeka Nwaru has been sentenced to 12 years imprisonment in South Africa.
Nwaru was convicted for dealing in drugs on Wednesday, February 2021, at the Stilfontein Regional Court following his arrest on 21 May 2018.
The accused was arrested by the Hawks’ South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau (SANEB) after they followed up on information of alleged drug dealing activities near Klerksdorp primary school.
The investigative team followed him from his flat, when he noticed that he was being followed, he allegedly disposed of a black plastic bag and attempted to flee. He was apprehended and the contents of the plastic bag were established to be drugs.
Nwaru was taken back to his flat where the police conducted a search and found neatly packed packets containing Crystal meth and CAT drugs worth approximately R1.5 million.
He made a brief appearance before the Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Court shortly after his arrest. The state successfully opposed bail and the accused remained in custody until ultimately being convicted of dealing in drugs.
Nwaru was taken back to his flat where the police conducted a search and found neatly packed packets containing Crystal meth and CAT drugs worth approximately R1.5 million.
He made a brief appearance before the Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Court shortly after his arrest. The state successfully opposed bail and the accused remained in custody until ultimately being convicted of dealing in drugs. He was sentenced as follows:
- Count 1: 6 years imprisonment for Dealing in Drugs,
- Count 2: 12 years imprisonment for Dealing in Drugs and
- Count 3: 12 months imprisonment suspended for five years for Contravention of the Immigration Act.
- Count 1 and 2 will run concurrently. The accused will therefore serve an effective 12 years imprisonment.
The Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Patrick Mbotho welcomed the sentence and thanked the investigative team and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for their sterling work.
