More than R4.3-million found in the various homes of an alleged drug dealing family, as well as other assets, were frozen yesterday.
The preservation order against the family is pending an application to have the assets, alleged to be the proceeds of illegal activities, forfeited to the state.
Livingstone Napoleon, 58, his wife Ingrid, 57, and sons Gibrultar Davis and Gladwin Napoleon, as well as Gibrultar’s wife Shanta, also stand to lose a smallholding at Kei Road, which the state yesterday alleged was instrumental in a drug dealing business.
Court papers before the Grahamstown High Court revealed that millions of rands in packets of R10000, two money-counting machines and drugs were found at their various homes.
They also reveal that when confronted with some R1.4-million found scattered across a couch at her home, Ingrid claimed the cash was from the sales of chickens to community members.
In her founding affidavit in support of the preservation order, East London’s deputy director of public prosecutions attached to the Asset Forfeiture Unit, Nicole Peters, says the cash and drugs were seized at three different East London addresses of the family.
She says the Napoleon couple have a record of previous drug related convictions and the sons were also “drug dealers in their own right”.
She said Shanta was a beneficiary of the proceeds of drug trade by her husband.
Police had obtained warrants and searched their homes simultaneously on July 8.
In the Napoleon couple’s home they found R1.4-million cash scattered on the sofa and floor in a flat at the back of the house.
They also seized dozens of bags of mandrax tablets.
Police had previously also conducted undercover operations and had allegedly bought large amounts of drugs from this house.
A further R2.6-million was seized from Gibrultar and Shanta’s home.
His smallholding at Kei Road was also searched and some 51000 mandrax tablets worth some R1.4-million were found hidden in the false bottom of a trailer there, said Peters.
A search of Gladstone’s home turned up some 306 mandrax tablets and more than R79000.
She said the property, money and trailer were instruments or proceeds of the crime of dealing drugs and should be forfeited to the state in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (Poca).
The preservation order would ensure the property could not be dissipated pending the imminent application for its forfeiture.
Hawks investigator Msingathi Ngcanga alleges in his affidavit that Livingstone was semi-retired and Gibultar and Gladwin were the backbone of the family business and of an organised syndicate that traffics drugs in the region.
He described Livingstone as a career criminal with 18 previous convictions under his belt dating back as far back as 1976, eight of which were drug related.
He said that at his bail application in mid-July in the East London Magistrate’s Court he and his two sons made rude gestures to the media. He attached photos taken and published by the Daily Dispatch capturing this.
Ingrid had three previous convictions with two being for drug related offences.
Gladwin had one previous drug related conviction.
Grahamstown attorney Marius Wolmarans yesterday appeared for the National Director of Public Prosecutions.
The Napoleon family was not represented.
They will be given an opportunity to brief counsel to make representations as to why their property should not be forfeited to the state when that application is heard.
Judge Nomatamsanqa Beshe presided.
Freeze on Napoleons’ empire
The preservation order against the family is pending an application to have the assets, alleged to be the proceeds of illegal activities, forfeited to the state.
Livingstone Napoleon, 58, his wife Ingrid, 57, and sons Gibrultar Davis and Gladwin Napoleon, as well as Gibrultar’s wife Shanta, also stand to lose a smallholding at Kei Road, which the state yesterday alleged was instrumental in a drug dealing business.
Court papers before the Grahamstown High Court revealed that millions of rands in packets of R10000, two money-counting machines and drugs were found at their various homes.
They also reveal that when confronted with some R1.4-million found scattered across a couch at her home, Ingrid claimed the cash was from the sales of chickens to community members.
In her founding affidavit in support of the preservation order, East London’s deputy director of public prosecutions attached to the Asset Forfeiture Unit, Nicole Peters, says the cash and drugs were seized at three different East London addresses of the family.
She says the Napoleon couple have a record of previous drug related convictions and the sons were also “drug dealers in their own right”.
She said Shanta was a beneficiary of the proceeds of drug trade by her husband.
Police had obtained warrants and searched their homes simultaneously on July 8.
In the Napoleon couple’s home they found R1.4-million cash scattered on the sofa and floor in a flat at the back of the house.
They also seized dozens of bags of mandrax tablets.
Police had previously also conducted undercover operations and had allegedly bought large amounts of drugs from this house.
A further R2.6-million was seized from Gibrultar and Shanta’s home.
His smallholding at Kei Road was also searched and some 51000 mandrax tablets worth some R1.4-million were found hidden in the false bottom of a trailer there, said Peters.
A search of Gladstone’s home turned up some 306 mandrax tablets and more than R79000.
She said the property, money and trailer were instruments or proceeds of the crime of dealing drugs and should be forfeited to the state in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (Poca).
The preservation order would ensure the property could not be dissipated pending the imminent application for its forfeiture.
Hawks investigator Msingathi Ngcanga alleges in his affidavit that Livingstone was semi-retired and Gibultar and Gladwin were the backbone of the family business and of an organised syndicate that traffics drugs in the region.
He described Livingstone as a career criminal with 18 previous convictions under his belt dating back as far back as 1976, eight of which were drug related.
He said that at his bail application in mid-July in the East London Magistrate’s Court he and his two sons made rude gestures to the media. He attached photos taken and published by the Daily Dispatch capturing this.
Ingrid had three previous convictions with two being for drug related offences.
Gladwin had one previous drug related conviction.
Grahamstown attorney Marius Wolmarans yesterday appeared for the National Director of Public Prosecutions.
The Napoleon family was not represented.
They will be given an opportunity to brief counsel to make representations as to why their property should not be forfeited to the state when that application is heard.
Judge Nomatamsanqa Beshe presided.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos