GEORGE NEWS - Drug dealing and money laundering have landed Michael John Wiese (57) from George in hot water.

Wiese entered into a plea and sentence agreement for one count of dealing in drugs and five counts of money laundering, to a total of R142 000, in the George Regional Court on 26 February.

All charges were joined for the purpose of sentencing and the accused was sentenced to a fine of R100 000 or four years imprisonment.

In addition, he was sentenced to six years imprisonment which is suspended for five years. Wiese was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.

The sentence follows an incident in 2016 when the Hawks received information that Wiese was on his way to visit one of his clients in Cape Town. 

In collaboration with the Riversdale police, they conducted a routine stop-and-search on the N2 near Riversdale where Wiese was pulled over in his white Toyota Hilux bakkie.

"Upon searching the vehicle, police discovered a black painted wooden box that contained 5 015kg of cannabis," said Lt Col Siyabulela Vukbi of the Hawks.

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