999 cocaine bricks worth half a billion worth seized at Durban Harbour

Half a billion rands worth of drugs were recently seized at the Durban Harbour in an operation by the South African Narcotic Enforcement Bureau of the Hawks from Gauteng, National Office, and Durban units.

The Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said the operation was done on 30 July 2021.

“The team acted on information received which was operationalised on a container at the harbour.”

She said the container was reported to be containing truck parts destined for SCANIA South Africa.

ALSO READ: Boat bust: Hawks find ‘pure cocaine’ worth R400m on N1 highway [pics]

“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.”

According to Mogale a search was conducted, and upon searching the container, several black canvas bags wrapped in plastic were 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. 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 1000kgs with a street value of R 500 million were seized.

No arrests have been made at this stage, and investigations are continuing.

Mogale furthermore said that since March, over 4 tons of cocaine had been seized in South Africa.

“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.”

ALSO READ: More suspects linked to R400 million drugs recovered in Pretoria arrested

This case is believed to be linked to a similar drug raid on 9 July 2021 of 715 kgs in Alberton, JHB, Gauteng coming from Durban Port, also disguised 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.”