Court freezes Mercedes-Benz and VW Polo used by Nigerian nationals in drug smuggling
Two Nigerians were arrested in separate Potchefstroom drug busts after police found narcotics hidden in a Mercedes-Benz and a VW Polo. Both vehicles have been preserved by court order.
Image: File
The North West High Court sitting in Mahikeng has granted two preservation orders for vehicles allegedly used in drug trafficking operations in Potchefstroom.
The orders, issued in terms of Section 38 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA), preserve a white Mercedes-Benz and a red Volkswagen Polo that were allegedly modified and used to smuggle drugs.
The decision follows two separate police operations conducted by the Provincial Organised Crime and Drug Task Team in 2023.
According to provincial police spokesperson Colonel Adéle Myburgh, the first operation took place in Bult, Potchefstroom, on 6 January 2023, when officers stopped a white Mercedes-Benz driven by a Nigerian national.
Upon searching the vehicle, they allegedly found drugs inside. The suspect was arrested for dealing in drugs and possession of illicit substances, and the vehicle was seized.
In an unrelated incident on 5 May 2023, along Promosa Road in Potchefstroom, the same task team intercepted a red Volkswagen Polo driven by another Nigerian national. A search of the vehicle reportedly uncovered drugs hidden inside, leading to the driver’s arrest and the confiscation of the car.
The high court later found that both vehicles had been deliberately modified to conceal and transport drugs, leading to the preservation orders.
Acting provincial commissioner Major General Ryno Naidoo welcomed the court’s decision, praising the police and the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) for their collaborative efforts in disrupting organised drug networks.
“The preservation orders send a strong message that criminals will not be allowed to benefit from or retain the tools they use to commit crime,” Naidoo said.
“We commend the dedicated work of our investigation teams and the NPA in ensuring that the law is upheld and our communities are protected from the scourge of drugs.”
The preservation orders mean that both vehicles will remain in state custody pending final forfeiture proceedings, which could see them permanently seized by the state.
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