A fifth alleged cocaine mert will join his friends in the dock at the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court on Thursday after the major drug bust valued at R400 million.
Following the bust which has led to the arrest of three Strand men for allegedly stockpiling the drugs in Gauteng for distribution to international drug cartels, the Hawks have revealed that another suspect was caught trying to flee the country.
Hawks spokesperson Philani Nkwalase says Lithuanian national, Tenikaitis Valdas, 57, was busted days after officers intercepted a drug consignment hidden on a boat.
He says on 2 June the team pounced on Niel Pieter van Zyl, 39, who was stopped on the N1 in Pretoria towing a ski boat loaded with 800kg of pure compressed cocaine.
Several days later before cops came to Cape Town to bust the Strand trio, they were alerted of an attempt by Valdas to fly to Paris.
“He was arrested at OR Tambo while boarding a flight to Paris, allegedly attempting to flee the country.
“He was arrested on Sunday, 6 June through further investigation,” says Nkwalase.
Several days later the Hawks busted Rafiek Baderoen, 44, Rashied Baderoen, 48, and Michael Norman, 38, from Strand, while Ahmad Isa, an international fugitive, went on the run.
Nkwalase says all five men will return to the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court on Thursday while the hunt for Isa, who was last seen in Camps Bay, continues.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Isa is asked to call Warrant Officer Brittion on 082 778 2815 or Brigadier Naicker on 082 778 2818.