A ”whole network” of traffickers is awaiting the release on bail of alleged drug lord Nazier Kapdi, the Wynberg Regional Court heard on Tuesday.
Kapdi (55) was arrested in a police trap in October along with Ismail Daniels (52), Ghulzar Ahmed (49), Owen Phakadi (30) and Fatima Clack (55). They are charged with three counts of dealing in the psychosis-inducing drug tik, and one of supplying the tik ingredient ephedrine.
They have brought a bail application before magistrate Jackie Redelinghuys, who is to give judgement on Wednesday.
They are ”hardened, professional drug traffickers”, Scorpions prosecutor Greg Wolmarans testified, explaining that a police trap had been necessary because of the scale of their syndicate’s operations.
”The network is still out there, waiting for them. If they are released on bail, there can be no doubt that they will return to the network — they have been doing it for years.”
Wolmarans told the court that not even their knowledge of the months-long police investigation into the syndicate had stopped them. ”The fact that they continued their trafficking, with the police breathing down their necks, shows how brazen they are.”
He warned: ”Don’t send them back into the welcoming arms of the syndicate. If you do, they will be more careful not to be caught again.”
They face a maximum of 25 years in jail or at least 15 years behind bars if convicted, which makes them obvious flight risks, he contended.
Wolmarans submitted that the five have access to unlimited funds and could, within hours, fly out of the country to a place from which they cannot be extradited.
Legal representatives for the defence, meanwhile, argued that nothing had been placed on record to persuade the court to keep them in custody. Their clients could spend a long time waiting to be tried, they pointed out.
It would be ”a disgrace” to keep them in custody without even a forensic report confirming that the substances confiscated in the trap were, in fact, tik, they submitted. — Sapa