GEORGE NEWS - A 54-year-old man who was caught transporting Mandrax worth millions through George has been sentenced to 10 years’ direct imprisonment.

The George Regional Court sentenced Alfred Ndidwa on Thursday 12 September, after he had pleaded guilty to charges of drug dealing and money laundering. 

His conviction follows an investigation by the Hawks’ George-based South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau (Saneb) team.

According to the Hawks’ spokesperson, Warrant Officer Zinzi Hani, the case dates back to 25 December 2016, when some Hawks members had received information about a vehicle being driven from Johannesburg to Cape Town with a drug consignment. 

The Hyundai H1 panel van was stopped and searched, leading to the discovery of 75 packets of Mandrax tablets hidden in a concealed compartment. The drugs had a street value of more than R3.7m.

Ndidwa was initially released on R200 000 bail, which was later forfeited to the State after he abandoned it at the start of his trial. In September 2023, he was rearrested in Soweto on a warrant of arrest and has remained in custody since then.

For the sentencing, the court took both charges together and imposed 15 years’ imprisonment, five of which were suspended for five years. 

This means Ndidwa will serve 10 years behind bars. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.

In addition, R11 800 in cash seized during his arrest, along with the panel van used to transport the drugs, were forfeited to the State. The money will be deposited into the Criminal Asset Recovery Account (Cara).

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