R1.3 Billion Worth of Drugs Seized at Durban Harbour, Mzansi Says “Expect It to Be Stolen”

• Over 300 kilograms of pure cocaine with a street value of R1.3 billion was recovered at the Durban harbour on Friday, 24 February
• The major drug bust conducted by SA Revenue Service’s (Sars) officers and police came after an intelligence-driven operation
• South Africans have doubt that the confiscated drug shipment will safely arrive at police storage facilities

DURBAN - Over 378 bricks of pure cocaine were uncovered on a ship at the Durban harbour on Friday, 24 February.

SARS customs officers and police officials carried out the raid on the ship where the 300 kilograms of contraband was found. The cocaine is believed to have an estimated street value of R1.3 billion, according to eNCA.

The shipment was uncovered following a week-long intelligence-driven operation. The Sars marine unit, Durban Operations, police Crime Intelligence and National Detective Services boarded the ship arriving from South America.

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The containers were offloaded in the Durban harbour and were then inspected. The inspection indicated that the containers were loaded with zinc metal products and several black bags containing cocaine.

The illicit substances and cellular tracking devices were handed over to police for further investigation.

TimesLIVE reported that Sars commissioner Edward Kieswetter praised enforcement agencies for the drug bust. He said by working together, law enforcement can crack down on narcotics entering the country.

Mzansi weighs in on R1.3 billion drug bust

@SikhoPhilani said:

“Watch the estimated value decrease from R1.3b to R130m then to R13m and then to R130k! I've seen this movie before.”

@tshepo0825 commented:

“Expect it to be stolen from the police evidence storeroom.”

@LeboEmm wrote:

“It is going to disappear again and we'll never hear anything about the people who supposedly stole it. Standard procedure.”

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@Cindyswa_M added:

“We know this algorithm. Somebody's children are going to get kidnapped then the drugs are going to 'go missing' from the Hawks evidence room.”

Police bust alleged drug smuggler with contraband worth R2.4 million wrapped in chocolate packages

Briefly News also reported that a 37-year-old man was bust with 4 kilograms of cocaine wrapped to look like chocolates at the Cape Town International Airport on Tuesday, 4 October.

The drugs have an estimated street value of R2.4 million and the man was charged with dealing drugs.

Members of the Provincial Organised Crime Narcotics unit in Cape Town followed up on information related to drug trafficking, the SAPS reported.

Source: Briefly News