The Secunda Regional Court, on Thursday 28 January 2021, sentenced Enzani Wiseman Shongwe (31) to 20 years direct imprisonment for manufacturing and dealing in drugs. During August 2016, nine drug syndicate members were arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit in Secunda during the termination of a project driven investigation. The “Project 24” Operation was targeting the manufacturing and dealing in drugs around Secunda. The eight other suspects  admitted guilt on the open trial and were sentenced in 2018 to a total of 144 years combined imprisonment. However, Shongwe opted to go for trial and appeared several times in the same court whilst he remained in custody since his arrest in 2016. Shongwe was found guilty on all charges and sentenced to 15 years direct imprisonment on each of the three counts of dealing in drugs. The first two of the three sentences are said to run concurrently and the judge ordered  that the accused serve an effective minimum of 20 years direct imprisonment. The Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation Major General Zodwa Mokoena welcomed the sentence and applauded the team for the great work . “We hope that  this will serve as deterrent to those who are still committing such type of crimes” said Major General Mokoena.