8 August 2022
Three men briefly appeared in the Athlone Magistrate’s Court on Monday following their arrest in connection with a massive cocaine bust worth more than R400 million.
Ebrahim Kara, 39, Meshack Mzungezi Ngobese, 47, and Elias Radebe, 42, face charges of drug dealing.
The men were arrested last week when the Hawks, along with Crime Intelligence and Western Cape traffic officials, acted on a tip-off and pulled over a truck on the N1, only to discover the massive stash of cocaine.
The operation was organised on the N1 freeway, and the truck was spotted at the Winelands Engen garage travelling towards Cape Town.
The vehicle was intercepted and searched along Jan Smuts Drive and the hidden drugs were discovered in false wooden boards at the back of the truck.
During proceedings on Monday, advocate Rueben Liddell, for the accused, told the court that the three men intended to plead not guilty.
