Day of reckoning for drug mules
Three drug mules were convicted in the Pongola Regional Court, after crossing the Golela border - the matters were unrelated
A TANZANIAN drug trafficker was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment after pleading guilty to possession of heroin with a street value of more than R500 000.
Asha Salum Msafari (35) and her companion, Juma Mwaikuka, were arrested on 27 July last year when they entered the country through the Golela border post.
Border police became suspicious when routine checks revealed a backpack which was unusually heavy and stiff.
Packaged white powder, weighing 2,5kg, was discovered in a hidden compartment.
Narcotics expert, W/O Ryno Louw of Richards Bay Organised Crime Unit, conducted the investigation, during which forensic analysis confirmed the substance to be heroin.
During her plea, Msafari told the court that the bag belonged to her and said Mwaikuka was merely carrying it.
Msafari was accordingly convicted and sentenced on her own admission.
Half of Msafari’s sentence was suspended for five years on condition that she is not again convicted of a similar offence.
The State withdrew the charges against Mwaikuka.
• Tanzanian drug smuggler Omary Salim Jundu (35) was caught with two backpacks containing heroin stitched into false compartments.
The heroin, weighing 1,2kg, had a street value of R300 000.
According to Jundu’s passport, he crossed into the country from Swaziland.
His passport revealed that he had entered South Africa on foot several times.
Jundu’s defense attorney concluded a plea agreement with the State, represented by State Advocate Mathenjwa, in terms of which Jundu pleaded guilty to possession of heroin.
On 11 December Jundu was sentenced to R100 000 or 10 years imprisonment, of which half was suspended for five years on condition that he is not again convicted of a similar offence.
He was also deemed unfit to possess a firearm and the drugs were declared forfeited to the State.
• Mozambican Fernando Joaquim Niguice (35), was caught crossing the Golela border in August with 1,7kg cocaine worth R500 000 hidden in two briefcases.
He was also sentenced to R100 000 or 10 years imprisonment of which half was suspended for five years.
Following the arrests, KZN Police Commissioner, Lt Gen Mmamonnye Ngobeni, said drugs entering though South African border posts is a huge problem and has negative socio-economic implications, such as crime.
‘We are going to strengthen border control and whoever is found to be importing or exporting drugs shall be dealt with by the full might of law,’ she said.
