After the news broke of the SA Revenue Service confiscating $9.3 million (over R100m) at Lanseria Airport earlier this month, little was known about the origin and purpose of the money, but some new details have emerged from the evidence.
The money, which was in black suitcases with combination locks, was suspected to be intended for helicopters and armaments intended to be used in Nigeria.
The Hawks took up the investigation, and uncovered an invoice from Tier One Services, a subsidiary of the Tier One Services Group Limited, to Cyprus-based company ESD International Group Ltd.
According to its website, the Teir One Services Group “provides aviation, logistics, security, risk management support and specialised training services to organisations and individuals operating in austere and challenging environments”.
“In court papers, the NPA submitted evidence that Tier One is not registered with the National Conventional Arms Control Committee and is thus not authorised to enter into any agreements regarding the sale and/or rental of military equipment,” revealed NPA spokesperson Nathi Mncube.
The agreement between Tier One and ESD was concluded on September 8, three days after the money was seized at Lanseria.
Check out the original story on the City Press.
