ANA- A suspected mastermind of an international drug who was arrested in Johannesburg last year has been extradited to the United States of America to face drug trafficking charges.
Edwin Elochukwu Anyaoku was nabbed during joint police investigation by the Hawks’ South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau (SANEB) and Crime Intelligence (Counter Narcotics) and the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) which resulted in the seizure of 29 kilograms of heroin worth more than R6 million.
He was arrested with other two suspects, Lerato Diannah Mohai who is the alleged courier and Christopher Okonkwo who is the suspected scout.
Spokesperson for the elite crime-fighting unit of the South African Police Service, the Hawks, Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said the 54-year-old Nigerian national, was extradited on Thursday.
"Okonkwo successfully made a representation to the Randburg Regional Court last year and after careful consideration, his matter was withdrawn. However, the case against Mohai is ongoing at the same court. It is [set] for trial on 16 July 2019,", he said.
Brigadier Muluadzi said the request was received from the US Justice Department for the extradition of Anyaoku late last year.
The extradition hearing took place in December and Anyaoku decided to waive his right to appeal against the extradition. In April the extradition was authorised by the SA justice and constitutional development minister.
Anyaoku was extradited to the US with the assistance of Interpol in Pretoria.
