Durban - Pietermaritzburg drug kingpin couple Hoosen and Yasmin Mohamed, along with five drug runners, entered into a plea bargain with the State at the Pietermaritzburg regional court on Thursday.
The couple, believed to be among KwaZulu-Natal’s biggest dealers in crack cocaine, with Norman Govender, Koobashen Nelson, Tony Ramdew, Azam Ismail and Suleiman Ismail Shaik, pleaded guilty to several charges of racketeering and dealing in cocaine.
Hoosen and Yasmin Mohamed pleaded guilty to two counts of racketeering and four counts of dealing in cocaine.
She was sentenced to 18 months in prison plus a further 10 years wholly suspended for a period of five years, while her husband was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment, of which seven years were suspended.
Nelson was sentenced similarly to Hoosen Mohamed relating to the same charges.
Govender and Ismail pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering and two counts of dealing in cocaine.
They were sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment, of which seven years were suspended.
Ramdew pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering and three counts of dealing in cocaine.
He was sentenced to five years in jail, of which two years were suspended.
Shaik was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment, of which five years were suspended after pleading guilty to one count of racketeering and two counts of dealing in cocaine.
Hoosen Mohamed, Nelson, Govender and Ismail all have been previously charged for dealing in drugs.
According to their plea, the Mohameds admitted to managing a drug enterprise and conducting their illegal activities from two homes Northdale, Pietermaritzburg, for many years.
They controlled the enterprise and were responsible for the drug runners.
All the suspects were arrested earlier this year after a three-year undercover operation by crime intelligence officials and the Hawks.
The runners sold drugs to the undercover agents who posed as customers on 11 different occasions between October last year and February this year.
About R30 000 was seized during the raids.
The police also seized Krugerrands, gold jewellery and electronic equipment.
The couple’s assets have been seized by the Asset Forfeiture Unit on the basis that these were acquired as a result of illegal activity.
Daily News