Pretoria - The Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has obtained an order in the North Gauteng High Court freezing a cash amount of US$9.34 million - about R102 million - that was confiscated at Lanseria Airport in Johannesburg.
The order, according to NPA spokesperson Nathi Mncube, was granted in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act which provides that property that is used to commit a crime can be frozen while the NPA applies for a final order to forfeit the money to the state.
The cash was brought into the country on a flight from Nigeria to Lanseria Airport on 5 September by two Nigerians and an Israeli.
“The money was initially detained by the South African Revenue Service (SARS) as it was not disclosed or declared at customs, and was above the prescribed legal limit for the amount of cash that may be brought into the country,” said Mncube.
Mncube said the cash consisted of 90 blocks of $100 000 each and was found in two black plastic suitcases.
Each suitcase had a combination lock to which only the Israeli citizen had the combination.
“In addition to the 90 blocks, some hand luggage of [the Israeli citizen] contained three sealed blocks and one partially opened block of US dollars,” Mncube said.
The money is currently being kept safe by the South African Reserve Bank. - SAnews.gov.za
