Notorious drug dealer and kingpin, Fadwaan ‘Vet’ Murphy, sentenced

Notorious drug dealer and kingpin, Fadwaan ‘Vet’ Murphy has been sentenced to 18 years imprisonment and fined R2 million after the=court found that his drug dealing came from ‘’his greed for money and power.’’

He was sentenced at the Western Cape High Court on Friday. The court found that 51-year-old Murphy’s actions destroyed communities and people living among them.

The court the same day also sentenced his ex-wife, Shafieka Murphy, to 15 years imprisonment.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson in the Western Cape,  Eric Ntabazalila, said the state argued his company Ulterior Trading Solutions was used as a front to conceal his drug dealing and money-laundering.

;;The court further ordered the registrar of the court to issue a warrant addressed to the Sherrif of the court, authorizing and directing him to recover the amount of the fine, plus an additional amount sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of the warrant, attachment, and sale in execution, by the attachment and sale of any movable property belonging to his company, Ulterior Trading Solutions CC. It further ordered if the proceeds of the sale of the movable property of Ulterior Trading Solutions CC are insufficient to cover the amount of the fine and the aforesaid costs and expenses, the registrar is authorized, on receipt of a return from the Sherrif stating that the proceeds are insufficient, to issue a warrant for the recovery on the unpaid amount from the immovable property of Ulterior Trading Solutions CC,’’ said Eric Ntabazalila, NPA Western Cape spokesperson.

The court in 2023, convicted (Fadwaan) Murphy on a count of managing an enterprise conducted through a pattern of racketeering activity, a count of conducting or participating in the conduct of an enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity, a count of receiving or retaining property derive from or through a pattern of racketing activity, 139 counts of attempt to deal in drugs, a count of dealing in drugs, 73 counts of money laundering,  It convicted his ex-wife, (Shafieka) Murphy, 57, on a count of managing an enterprise conducted through a pattern of racketeering activity, a count of conducting or participating in the conduct of an enterprise through a pattern racketeering activity, a count of receiving or retaining property derive from or through a pattern of racketing activity, 139 counts of attempt to deal in drugs, a count of dealing in drugs, 25 counts of money laundering.

‘’His company, Ulterior Trading Solutions (CC), which the State argued was used as a front to conceal his drug dealing and launder ill-gotten proceeds of drug dealing, was convicted on a count of receiving or retaining property derived from or through a pattern of racketing activity, 112 counts of attempt to deal in drugs, a count of dealing in drugs, 72 counts of money laundering. The company’s bank accounts were also used to purchase properties in Strand, a five-bedroom house with two swimming pools in Parklands and another one in Worcester,’’ said Ntabazalila.

‘’Arguing for maximum penalty on all charges faced by the accused, Senior State Adv Aradhana Heeramun, said they conducted their unlawful activity as if they were conducting a legitimate business with a blatant disregard for the law. She argued that their sole aim was to enrich themselves financially. They profited and enriched themselves, but at what cost? Their greed for power came at an extremely high price, the destruction of communities and the lives of people living among them,’’

They interfered with state witnesses while the trial was ongoing which demonstrated their blatant disregard for the rule of law, the courts, and the criminal justice system. This demonstrated the extent they would go to, to avoid prosecution. Their conduct was reprehensible and egregious and warranted no excuses or mercy. The intention of the legislature in enacting the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act, POCA and minimum sentence legislation must be considered. The penalties contained within the respective pieces of legislation are aimed at addressing the crime. In short, the punishment must fit the crime. POCA specifically is aimed at addressing organised crime and hence those penalties were included to fit the crime. The State seeks the maximum penalty on all charges,’’ added Ntabazalila.

The court heard that the Western Cape has the highest rate of drug-related crime in the country.

It contributed more than a third of the country’s drug-related crime. Drug-related crimes in the province were mainly prevalent in precincts notorious for gang-related activities and violence. It was for this reason it was seen as the drug haven of South Africa,’’ said Detective Colonel Johan Smit, with 34 years’ experience in the investigation of drug-related cases.

The court agreed with the strong arguments advanced by the State and sentenced the accused. The accused immediately applied for leave to appeal and their case was postponed to 29 January 2024 for arguments.

The Western Cape’s Police Oversight & Community Safety MEC, Reagan Allen, welcomed the sentencing.

‘’He, along with those who are all part of his illicit drug trade, tormented our communities for decades. Of course, a longer sentence would have been ideal, however, we believe and trust in our justice system. This sentence shows what can be achieved when the poker can be effectively used.’’

‘’As much as he has the right to appeal the sentence, I urge the court to firmly reject this as this ruthless man is exactly where he belongs,’’ added Allen.

 

Done By: Mitchum George