Alleged drug lord out on bail

ONE of Zululand’s most infamous alleged drug kingpins, arrested two weeks ago in possession of illegal substances worth R200 000, was granted R2000 bail by the Mtubatuba Magistrate’s Court yesterday (Tuesday).

Christian Onwukaike faces charges of attempted murder, intimidation and possession of illegal substances.

The 28-year-old Nigerian national was arrested in Empangeni on 28 September by the Mtubatuba SAP in joint operation with the Empangeni Canine Unit.

According to the Mtubatuba SAP, Onwukaike opened fire on police in his pursuit and escaped on foot near St Lucia four days before he was finally apprehended on Empangeni’s Watsonia Street.

He has also been accused of intimidating any would-be whistle-blowers and selling a wide array of drugs to youngsters in Richards Bay, Empangeni, St Lucia, Mtubatuba and Kwambonambi.

4 OCTOBER

Accused drug lord stays in jail

ONE of Zululand’s most infamous alleged drug kingpins will remain behind bars at the Mtubatuba SAPS until his next court appearance on Tuesday to submit a bail application.

This was decided at Christian Onwukaike’s first appearance in the Mtubatuba Magistrates Court this week.

According to the Mtubatuba SAP, the 28-year-old Nigerian national is accused of a long line of crimes including shooting at police officers in his pursuit on Heritage Day, selling illegal drugs to youngsters and intimidating potential whistle blowers.

The Mtubatuba SAP in collaboration with the Empangeni Canine Unit arrested the suspect in Empangeni on Saturday after catching him in possession of drugs with the street value of around R200 000.

He was charged with attempted murder, intimidation and possession of illegal substances.

A wide array of drugs including heroin and cocaine was discovered in his Ford Focus.

‘We’d like to sincerely thank the Empangeni Canine Unit for their support in arresting the suspect,’ said Mtubatuba SAP spokesperson Mandla Mpontshane.

1 OCTOBER

Alleged drug kingpin arrested

AFTER reportedly shooting at police, selling drugs to Zululand’s youth and intimidating his whistle blowers, one of the region’s most infamous alleged drug dealers was put behind bars in the Mtubatuba SAPS holding cells on Saturday.

According to the Mtubatuba SAPS they, in collaboration with the Empangeni Canine Unit, caught the Nigerian national in possession of drugs with the street value of around R200 000 in Empangeni.

Heroine, cocaine and tablets were found in his Ford Focus.

The arrest came soon after a failed operation on Heritage Day last Tuesday, in which the suspect is believed to have shot at police hot on his trail near St Lucia, before escaping on foot.

He was charged with attempted murder, intimidation and possession of illegal substances and appeared in the Mtubatuba Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

‘We’d like to sincerely thank the Empangeni Canine Unit for assisting us in making this arrest,’ said Mtubatuba SAPS spokesperson Mandla Mpontshane.

One relieved community member told the Eyethu Bay Watch that the alleged drug lord was responsible for the deaths of five young adults, between the ages of 17 to 2,5 in Richards Bay, Empangeni, KwaMbonambi, Hluhluwe and St Lucia.

‘He is not just a drug dealer, but a murderer.

‘One girl I knew was clean for so long, but the liver damage she sustained from drugs was so extensive that she eventually passed away.

‘For seven years, I have known of him luring and selling drugs to youngsters all over Zululand, who get hooked and lose their chance at a full life.

‘The longer he stays in prison, the more children will be safe.

‘He will never know how many lives and families he’s ruined through his ‘business’ and our courts simply can’t grant him bail!’

Details of the suspect’s court appearance were not released at the time of going to print.