The five men who were arrested during April this year for their alleged involvement in a massive drug syndicate did not receive bail. All five appeared in the Louis Trichardt District Court on Monday.

Since their first appearance, all five independently tried to apply for bail, but their applications were declined by the court.

Godfrey Mahero (31), Radhamani Calias Jumuwane (20), Edgard Anglus Lidanga (22), Alex Lidanga (26) and Ikechuku Olike (26) were arrested in different residential areas in Louis Trichardt in connection with the sale of drugs, including cocaine and heroine from Johannesburg, to local users. All of them, except for Olike, are Tanzanian citizens. Olike hails from Nigeria.

According to information available, it has been determined that none of the five men was in the country legally . The alleged kingpin of the gang is, however, still on the run. It is believed that he is hiding in Johannesburg.

The apprehension of the alleged drug mob follows an undercover police operation, code-named Project Demolition, which investigated drug syndicates in Louis Trichardt. The operation was headed by the Organised Crime Unit from Polokwane. Two undercover police officials, pretending to be drug addicts, were deployed and the transactions were caught on video tape.

The men’s case was postponed until August 3 for further investigation and to set a possible trial date.