The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks, in East London have been granted a forfeiture order for a Toyota Hilux GD-6 double cab bakkie and foreign currency equivalent to R400,000.

The Toyota Hilux valued at R900,000 and the foreign currency were instruments in committing crime, according to Eastern Cape spokesperson for the Hawks, Warrant-Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana.

He said the forfeiture order, granted by the High Court in Mthatha, was for R1,4 million encompassing the vehicle and the money.

“On Tuesday, June 25 2024, members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) based at the borders between South Africa and Lesotho in the Eastern Cape intercepted a Toyota Hilux double cab. Defence force members approached the aforesaid vehicle and found three foreign nationals inside with a large amount of foreign cash,” said Mhlakuvana.

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The soldiers requested occupants of the Toyota Hilux bakkie to produce their passports but the three travellers failed to produce the required documents.

“The suspects were Mpatalile Khojoane, 48, Matsepo Matse Liau, 38, and Rethabile Mercury Khojoane, 28. The accused were arrested on the spot for contravention of Immigration Act and the Currency Exchange Act,” said Mhlakuvana.

The Toyota Hilux bakkie and the money were confiscated for further investigations. The Hawks were then informed for further probing of the matter.

The arrested trio was in custody until they were sentenced by the Maluti Regional Court in September last year.

“The accused were sentenced to undergo five years direct imprisonment or to pay R700,000 fine each.

“A preservation order prohibiting the use of the vehicle was issued, followed by the granting of the forfeiture order on Friday. The vehicle will be sold at auction, and the proceeds will be deposited into the Criminal Assets Recovery Account (CARA) for State use,” said Mhlakuvana.

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