EASTERN CAPE – The Hawks’ Priority Crime Specialised Investigation (PCSI) in the Eastern Cape successfully had assets accumulated through criminal conducts forfeited to the state.
In March 2022, information was received by South African Police Service members while performing their normal duties about a white Nissan NP 200 LDV with an armed man travelling on the N2 freeway towards Gqeberha transporting drugs. The vehicle was spotted in Kinkelbos and followed to where it was brought to a stop. The vehicle was found with one occupant and was searched. Two firearms with ammunition and a box with tik drugs were seized. The driver was arrested for the possession of drugs and illegal possession of the firearms. The preservation order for the Kinkelbos station commander to prohibit the use and possession of the seized articles by anyone until the forfeiture order is finalised.
In another instance in January 2022, members of the Anti-Gang Unit in Gqeberha received information regarding the dealing in drugs in a house in Schauderville at Gqeberha. The house was searched and 608 mandrax tablets, tik and Cat were seized. Three unlicensed firearms with ammunition were also seized together with more than R15 000 cash R15 000. The occupants ran away thus no arrests were effected but cash was forfeited.
In an incident that occurred in January 2022 where G4S security was robbed at gunpoint at a supermarket in Gqeberha where one guard was fatally wounded. It was estimated that 19 suspects were involved and only one was arrested. Cash and three firearms were robbed during the ordeal. Information was received that R18 000 ended up in a girlfriend’s account was seized and paid back to G4S.
In a separate incident, payment of more than R282 000 which was seized during a takedown on Operation Damage by the Serious Organised Crime Investigation team of the Hawks was paid to the Criminal Asset Recovery Account (CARA). A number of successful drugs purchases were witnessed. Property used as instrumentality in the commission of crime worth more than R900 000 will be auctioned in due course.
The PCSI team of the Hawks was lauded by the Provincial Head, Major General Mboiki Obed Ngwenya for tremendous work.
