Nigerian Nationals
By Lerato Mpembe
Two undocumented Nigerian nationals, Ikemukwu Benjermin Ezirim (39) and Christian Valentine Uchenna (37), have been remanded in custody following their appearance at the Volksrust Magistrate’s Court in Mpumalanga on drug-related charges. The arrests occurred on Thursday during a multidisciplinary operation led by the Hawks’ Secunda-based Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit, in collaboration with the Serious Corruption Investigation, Serious Commercial Crime Investigation, and the Standerton K9 Unit, among others.
Two undocumented Nigerian nationals, Ikemukwu Benjermin Ezirim (39) and Christian Valentine Uchenna (37), have been remanded in custody following their appearance at the Volksrust Magistrate’s Court in Mpumalanga on drug-related charges.
Captain Dineo Sekgotodi, spokesperson for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), detailed the sequence of events:
“The operation was initiated after actionable intelligence was received regarding suspects involved in drug trafficking. Upon arrival at the specified location, one suspect attempted to dispose of evidence by flushing drugs down the toilet. Both suspects were apprehended, and a subsequent search of their vehicle revealed additional narcotics concealed within the vehicle’s body and tyres. Further investigation revealed that both individuals lacked valid documentation to be in South Africa.”
The operation resulted in the seizure of drugs valued at approximately R1.2 million, R2,000 in cash, five cellphones worth an estimated R15,000, a silver weighing scale, and a silver Mercedes-Benz C180 valued at around R400,000.
The suspects appeared in court on Friday and were remanded in custody. Their case has been postponed to 9 December 2024 for a bail application.
Provincial head of the Hawks, Major General Nicholas Jacobus Gerber, commended community members for providing information that led to the arrests and the seizure of the drugs.
This incident underscores the ongoing challenges of drug trafficking and undocumented immigration in Mpumalanga. In August 2023, four individuals were arrested in separate incidents in Sabie and Volksrust for drug-related offenses. In one operation, two Nigerian nationals, aged 42 and 43, were apprehended in Sabie with approximately R54,000 in cash, suspected to be proceeds from drug sales. They also faced charges under the Immigration Act for lacking valid documentation. In another operation in Volksrust, a 23-year-old man and an 18-year-old woman were arrested for dealing in drugs, with 39 suspected Mandrax tablets valued at about R13,900 seized.
Earlier, in January 2023, two men believed to be major suppliers of drugs in the Standerton and Volksrust areas were arrested. One suspect was found with various drugs, including 102 Mandrax tablets, crystal meth, Cat, and Nyaope, while driving a gold Nissan NP200. A subsequent search of his residence uncovered a stripped blue Toyota Etios, reported stolen in 2020. The second suspect was arrested in Volksrust with nine stones of unpacked Cat, weighing 372 grams and valued at approximately R18,000.
Two undocumented Nigerian nationals, Ikemukwu Benjermin Ezirim (39) and Christian Valentine Uchenna (37), have been remanded in custody following their appearance at the Volksrust Magistrate’s Court in Mpumalanga on drug-related charges.
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