Ntwaagae Seleka
Ntwaagae Seleka
Heavily armed, plain-clothed Vaal Rand police, including sharpshooters, yesterday secured the Vereeniging magistrate's court after a tip-off that six Chinese nationals due to appear would be sprung from custody.
Six unmarked police cars had to escort the vehicles transporting the five men and a woman to and from court.
Police were also informed that there were plans to hijack the vehicle transporting the group from Leeuhof Prison where the five men were held.
The group is accused of contravening the Immigration Act, staying in the country illegally, being in possession of fraudulent passports and possessing drugs and the equipment for manufacturing the illegal substances.
Vaal Rand police spokesman Captain Veli Mcera said: "We had to be alert and be suspicious about anything because this case is high profile."
Jieqian Feng, 30, Cailin Lin, 23, Jian Lian Feng, 31, Fan Yan Sam, 23, Meng Jian Zhu, 24, and Zhuchi Feng, 23, were handcuffed and had their legs in leg-irons.
The case was postponed pending DNA results, cellphone records and other exhibits that were taken during their arrest.
The group was arrested in April at a smallholding at De Deur in the Vaal.
Police confiscated methamphetamine drugs commonly known as Tik worth R500 and chemicals used to make the drug worth about R1,2million.
The case was adjourned to October 5 and police escorted the group back to prison under tight security.
Special security for foreigners in drug case
Ntwaagae Seleka
Ntwaagae Seleka
Heavily armed, plain-clothed Vaal Rand police, including sharpshooters, yesterday secured the Vereeniging magistrate's court after a tip-off that six Chinese nationals due to appear would be sprung from custody.
Six unmarked police cars had to escort the vehicles transporting the five men and a woman to and from court.
Police were also informed that there were plans to hijack the vehicle transporting the group from Leeuhof Prison where the five men were held.
The group is accused of contravening the Immigration Act, staying in the country illegally, being in possession of fraudulent passports and possessing drugs and the equipment for manufacturing the illegal substances.
Vaal Rand police spokesman Captain Veli Mcera said: "We had to be alert and be suspicious about anything because this case is high profile."
Jieqian Feng, 30, Cailin Lin, 23, Jian Lian Feng, 31, Fan Yan Sam, 23, Meng Jian Zhu, 24, and Zhuchi Feng, 23, were handcuffed and had their legs in leg-irons.
The case was postponed pending DNA results, cellphone records and other exhibits that were taken during their arrest.
The group was arrested in April at a smallholding at De Deur in the Vaal.
Police confiscated methamphetamine drugs commonly known as Tik worth R500 and chemicals used to make the drug worth about R1,2million.
The case was adjourned to October 5 and police escorted the group back to prison under tight security.