Police seize massive cocaine haul worth R583m off Saldanha coast

Western Cape organised crime narcotics unit detectives on Monday evening seized a massive haul of R583 million cocaine from a fishing vessel off the Saldanha coast.

Four Bulgarian nationals and six suspects from Myanmar were arrested and charged with dealing in drugs.

“The intelligence-driven, evening operation saw various tactical forces descending on the vessel where 973 blocks of compressed cocaine (estimated at R583 million) were found in three compartments of the vessel,” said Western Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa in a statement on Tuesday.

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The ten suspects are expected to appear in the Vredenburg Magistrate’s Court soon.

#sapsWC In an extensive op led by Western Cape organised crime narcotics unit detectives comprising of various tactical operational units, police have seized a MASSIVE cocaine haul from a fishing vessel off the Saldahna coast on Monday evening #DrugBust MEhttps://t.co/udawtyU9An pic.twitter.com/2Uplp5qg59

— SA Police Service ???????? (@SAPoliceService) March 2, 2021

Police said further investigations would continue to determine the origins as well as the intended destination of the consignment.

“SAPS management has hailed the find as a step in the right direction in efforts to deal with the illicit drug trade,” Potelwa said.

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