GAUTENG – A 56-year-old Nigerian national has been arrested by the East Rand-based Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation (SOCI) unit in connection with alleged drug trafficking and human trafficking.

The suspect was arrested at a lodge in Kempton Park on Thursday, 13 August. He faces charges under the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act 140 of 1992 and the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act 7 of 2013.

The arrest follows an investigation into the recruitment of five South African women who were allegedly used as drug mules.

In March, Zodwa Patience Mthombeni, Nomagcisa Dayimane, Precious Nemukondeni Mulweli, Thule Shikwambane and Vuyokazi Toko were arrested at OR Tambo International Airport while preparing to travel to Japan.

The women were allegedly found in possession of 11.40kg of cocaine with an estimated street value of R4.5 million.

Further investigations by the Hawks revealed that the women had allegedly been recruited as drug mules by a Nigerian national based in Kempton Park.

The investigation subsequently led Hawks members to a lodge in Kempton Park, where they arrested the alleged kingpin on Thursday.

The suspect is expected to make his first appearance in the Kempton Park Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 17 August, where he will face the charges.

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