Pretoria: Today, the acting National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks), Major General Mthandazo Ntlemeza, lauded the Hawks in Johannesburg for dismantling a Nigerian drug-smuggling ring.

The Hawks team raided the Highrise flats in Berea, Johannesburg yesterday. They did a thorough search and arrested five Nigerian men. The Nigerians are allegedly part of a bigger syndicate involved in the trade of drugs in the area.

When the team searched their flat, they found 1 kg of heroine and 500 g of cocaine rocks with a street value of R375 000,00. When asked to identify themselves, they presented asylum papers, so their identity
must still be confirmed.

The men will appear in the Hillbrow Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 8 January 2015 on charges of dealing in drugs.

“We have no shelter for drug dealers in this country, nor do we have a safe place for drug storage. These substances and their precursors are ravaging our communities. We are serious when we say we want to close the drug market in this country,” said General Ntlemeza while congratulating the team for the arrest.