Bethal – A fugitive and alleged drug ring leader appeared in court
MPUMALANGA – Mbuso Janvier Kikaranga (35) a Congolese citizen was arrested by the Secunda HAWKS on 2022/06/19 in Embalenhle and appeared in the Bethal Magistrate Court for charges of dealing in drugs on Monday, 20 June 2022. This follows his arrest Wednesday, 15 June 2022 in Embalenhle for Possession of a stolen vehicle
Kikaranga was additionally charged for his alleged involvement in a drug criminal group in the Bethal area in Mpumalanga, to which he was dubbed the main suspect and ring leader. He had been on the run since 28 June 2021, during the takedown operation of “Dream On”, a project-driven investigation that led to the arrest of eleven (11) suspects involved in the criminal group that worked in a tandem arrangement that is distributing drugs to the community in the Bethal area.
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Consequently, a warrant of arrest was issued against him for three (3) counts of dealing in drugs which were added to a charge of possession of a stolen vehicle upon his arrest and a subsequent first court appearance in Evander court for the Possession of stolen vehicle and in Bethal Magistrate court on his warrant of arrest for dealing in drugs on Project Dream On. The case against the suspect was postponed to 04 July 2022 for a formal bail application.
Meanwhile, his accomplices are expected to appear on the same day at Bethal Regional court and Kikaranga will at the later stage appear along with his alleged accomplices.
Police urge anyone with any information on Crime to call the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111. Alternatively, members of the public can send information via MYSAPSAPP. All received information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous
