The Acting Provincial Head, Brigadier Selina Maponya welcomed the hefty sentence imposed by the East London Magistrates’ Court upon a Nigerian national, Ejike Okafor (38) on 23 June 2022 for charges of dealing and possession of drugs.
Between 1 July 2021 and 11 July 2021, the East London based Hawks’ South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau in a joint operation with Crime Intelligence Gathering successfully witnessed the purchasing of tik worth R7500-00 on three different occasions in Beacon Bay, East London.
On 11 July 2021, a takedown operation was executed. Several exhibits implicating the accused were seized at his residence as well as R33 000-00 cash which was suspected to be proceeds of illegal drug dealing.
It was also established that Okafor also stored a large amount of his drugs at a flat belonging to a South African woman. During a search of her flat, a large quantity of tik was discovered. Okafor was arrested and released on bail.
On 23 June 2022 after a series of court appearances, Okafor was sentenced to a fine of R200 000 or 10 years imprisonment.
He further received a 10 year-suspended sentence provided that he is not convicted for the same offence during the five-year period of suspension.
