SA COUPLE NABBED WITH OVER E1.5M GOLD, DRUGS

MBABANE – Busted! Vigilant police officers at Lomahasha Border Gate have arrested a married South African couple after they were allegedly found smuggling gold worth over E1.5 million and drugs into Eswatini.

They were from Mozambique when the law enforcers pounced on them.
On top of the pieces of gold and the drugs, the duo of Julius Mostert (38) and Joani-Stasja Meiring (36) both from Pretoria, were allegedly also found in possession of 12 pieces of silver weighing 4.54 kilogrammes and valued at E28 620.

The drugs that were allegedly found in their possession included, 17 grammes black ball hashish with a street value at E360, five magic mushrooms with a street value of E6 000 and powdered opium weighing 0.0047 kilogrammes.

Magic mushrooms are a type of illegal drug which have been in existence for many years. As the name implies, this drug is actually a type of mushroom which is chewed to achieve hallucinogenic effects. Primary ingredients which cause these effects are psilocybin and psilocin.

The items were found hidden in a Silver grey VW sedan registered CH 32 GZ GP, that was driven by Mostert, who was in the company of his wife, Joani.

They have been slapped with six counts, which include contravening the Mines and Minerals Act of 2011, contravening the Habit Forming Drug Act No.37/1922, violating the Pharmacy Act of 1929 and contravening Section 81 of the Customs and Excise Act 21/1971.

According to the police, the two also failed to declare the importation of goods which are prohibited or restricted. They are also alleged to have contravened the Customs and Excise Act by having the illicit goods in their possession.

The couple is currently being kept at Big Bend Correctional facility, after they made their first appearance at Simunye Magistrates Court.
They were admitted to E705 000 bail each by Magistrate Musa Nxumalo. Magistrate Nxumalo ordered each of them to pay E5 000 cash and provide surety of E700 000.

The couple has since approached the High Court where it is seeking an order for the variation of their bail.  In their application filed by lawyer Sifiso ‘Charlie’ Jele, they argued that in terms of the law, bail ought to be reasonable and the granting of excessive bail was not required.  They contended that the order of Magistrate Nxumalo regarding the sureties was tantamount to a refusal of bail.

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