Half a billion rands worth of drugs were seized at Durban Harbour in an operation by the South African Narcotic Enforcement Bureau of the Hawks.
DURBAN – Half a billion rands worth of drugs were seized at Durban Harbour last month in an operation by the South African Narcotic Enforcement Bureau of the Hawks.
Hawks spokesperson Katlego Mogale said the team acted on information received about a container at the harbour.
Mogale said the container was reported to be holding truck parts destined for SCANIA South Africa.
The team proceeded to the premises and established that Border police’s initial investigations revealed that it would be a “Rip on/Rip off” situation, where the drugs would be removed from the container clandestinely and the container seal replaced.
“A subsequent search was conducted and upon searching the container several black canvas bag wrapped in plastic were found placed at the entrance of the container. Upon further investigation it was established that the container was packed with cocaine bricks contained in the black canvas bags. A duplicate container seal was also found placed inside the container,” said Mogale.
The balance of the goods in the container were established to be truck cabs destined for the consignee (SCANIA SA).
A total of 999 bricks of cocaine, weighing 1,000kg and with an estimated street value of R 500 million, were seized.
“No arrests have been made at this stage and investigations are continuing.
“Since March, over four tons of cocaine have been seized in South Africa and most of these drugs would have been destined for other countries while at least 20% would have remained behind as payment to the traffickers and consumption in the domestic market,” Mogale said.
This case is believed to be linked to a similar drug seizure of 715kg in Aeroton, Gauteng, coming from Durban Port and also disguised as Scania truck parts, earlier in July.
Mogale said during the seizure of that consignment four suspects were arrested, including three police officials.
Investigations have revealed that the origin of all of these consignments is the Port of Santos in Brazil.
“The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation is still seeking assistance in locating a foreign national believed to be the mastermind behind some of these criminal activities,“ said Mogale.
“Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Brigadier Devon Naicker on 082 778 2818 and Warrant Officer Brittion on 082 778 2815.
“Information received will be treated in strictest confidentiality.”
The national head of the DPCI, Lieutenant-General Lebeya, thanked the public for the information that resulted in the interdiction of these consignments.
“The supply chain has been severed. The focus should now be on finding the perpetrators of these crimes,” Lebeya said.
