cocaine

The Hawks seized cocaine worth nearly R17 million from a warehouse in Durban. Image: SAPS.

Bricks on bricks: Hawks seize nearly R17m in cocaine from Durban warehouse

The Hawks seized bricks of cocaine worth nearly R17 million from a warehouse in Clairwood, Durban. No arrests were made.

cocaine

The Hawks seized cocaine worth nearly R17 million from a warehouse in Durban. Image: SAPS.

The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) seized a sizeable consignment of cocaine from a Durban warehouse on Monday, 28 November.

COCAINE SEIZED IN DURBAN

Members of the Hawks’ Durban Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit were called to a warehouse in Clairwood along with Durban Harbour Detectives and the Berea SAPS. At the warehouse, members were shown suspicious parcels hidden in the cargo.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that it was cocaine. A further search was conducted, and more bricks of cocaine were found,” said Captain Simphiwe Mhlongo.

The seized cocaine has an estimated street value of R16.8 million. No suspects have been arrested, and the investigation continues.

Hawks boss, Lieutenant-General Godfrey Lebeya, provided an update on the Directorate’s activities in the second quarter of the 2022/2023 financial year on Tuesday, 29 November.

A number of the cases discussed by Lebeya dealt with cocaine smuggling. On 28 August, a suspect named John Laurent Dimoso, 45, allegedly smuggled cocaine worth R2.2 million through the border.

“The suspect was arrested after a taxi travelling from Botswana to South Africa was searched, and three bags of cocaine were found hidden in false compartments of his two backpacks.” He is expected to appear before the Lehurutse Magistrate’s Court again on 8 December on charges of Contravention of the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act.

Before that incident, a massive haul of cocaine worth R400 million was seized in the Western Cape on 4 August.

“The suspects were intercepted by the team on the N1 towards Cape Town. The drugs were concealed in false wooden boards stacked at the back of the truck. The matter is remanded to 15 December 2022 for further investigation,” said the Hawks.

The suspects are expected in court again on 15 December.

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