Acting on information received, the Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation team recovered a huge cache of cocaine worth about R240 million on Thursday at the Durban Harbour.
Hawks spokesperson, Brigadier Nomthandazo Mbambo, said: “The team received information about the MSC vessel that was sailing from South America to South Africa transporting containers with wooden flooring boards in which cocaine had been concealed within the consignment. On arrival, the container was searched. It was discovered that between the boards, there were large black sports bags, each with bricks of cocaine. The drugs weighed 600 kilograms with an estimated street value of R240 million. No arrests were made at this stage pending the ongoing investigation.”
The Hawks National Head, Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya praised the seizure of the drugs. “I appreciate the efforts by the members of the DPCI in disrupting the supply of the drugs. With the cargo safely in good hands, we shall now be focussing on the perpetrators. I have further appointed a team on the recommendation of the Deputy National Head to cover ground in dealing with the drugs that were stolen in a burglary incident,” said Lt/Gen Lebeya.
