Hawks make Ribn busts

Drug seizures estimated at more than R32 million, 3 illegal labs closed.

- Brian Sokutu

Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) head Lieutenant-General advocate Godfrey Lebeya said at the weekend that in the first quarter of the 2024-2025 financial year, the unit dealt with 18 461 cases, involving 752 712 charges and more than R1 billion.

Among the cases, 5 616 involved 11 972 people appearing before courts, with 1788 cases receiving the attention of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to decide on prosecution.

"The Hawks have made significant inroads in apprehending individuals involved in high-profile cases.

"These arrests targeted people involved in serious corruption, fraud, money laundering, police killings, cash-in-transit robberies, illegal mining, damage to essential infrastructure and crimes against the state.

"A total of 673 people, reflecting natural persons and 36 juristic persons, were secured before the various courts in the country.