DURING a daylong operation from 30 September to 1 October, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, the Hawks intercepted a goods container on Tuesday night at the Durban harbour and seized 95 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated street value of R29 million.
The intelligence led operation was conducted in conjunction with SAPS DPCI, Hawks and Customs Unit officials at the Durban harbour.
Upon searching the container, cocaine which was positively identified by the forensic team of the SAPS was found packed in boxes next to the door of the container. One kilogram cocaine blocks were counted to a total of 95 blocks. Preliminary investigations revealed that an original seal of the container had been tempered with by the syndicate to sneak-in drugs.
According to Captain Thulani Zwane, it is suspected the drugs were intended to be removed before the container could be handed to the owner. The ship carrying the container departed Buenos Aires in Argentina, South America on 5 September and arrived at Durban Harbour on the night of 30 September at about 10pm. No arrest has been made at this stage.
KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lt Gen Ngobeni applauded the police on their intelligent hard work in recovering the big consignment.
“Such operations will continue to make sure that the perpetrators who are trafficking drugs into our country face the full might of law,” she said
