Half a billion rand worth of drugs were seized at Durban Harbour on Friday, 30 July, in an operation by the South African Narcotic Enforcement Bureau of the Hawks from Gauteng, National Office and Durban units.
A foreign national believed to be the mastermind behind some of the drug related criminal activities, is being sought by police. Spokesperson for Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Colonel Katlego Mogale, said the team acted on information received, which was operationalised on a container at the harbour. “The container was reported to be containing truck parts destined for Scania South Africa. The team proceeded to the said 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 bags wrapped in plastic were placed at the entrance of the container,” said Col Mogale. He added that 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. The balance of the goods in the container were established to be truck cabs destined for the consignee,” said Col Mogale. A total of 999 bricks of cocaine weighing 1000kg with a street value of R500 million were seized. No arrests have been made at this stage and investigations are continuing.
Col Mogale said 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 whilst at least 20% would have remained behind as payment to the traffickers and consumption in the domestic market. “This case is believed to be linked to similar drug seizures on 9 July of 715kg in Aeroton, Jhb, Gauteng coming from Durban Port, also guised as Scania truck parts. During the seizure of the said 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,” said Col Mogale.
Two more seizures were executed at a depot in Isipingo, Durban, and an even larger seizure in Gauteng where four suspects were arrested. 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. Anyone with information is urged 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, appreciates the information from the public that resulted in the interdiction of these consignments from reaching the consuming victims. The supply chain has been severed. The focus should now be on finding the perpetrators of these crimes,” concluded Col Mogale.
