A whopping 600kg of cocaine recovered in Durban harbour

A whopping 600kg of cocaine was recovered in the Durban harbour by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team on Tuesday.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE OPERATION?

According to Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Nomthandazo Mbambo the team received information about the MSC vessel sailing from South America to South Africa transporting containers with wooden flooring boards that had cocaine concealed within the consignment.

She said the containers were searched upon arrival on 25 November 2021.

ALSO READ: Watch: Man who was kidnapped in broad daylight in Benoni RESCUED

WHAT IS THE STREET VALUE OF THE COCAINE?

“It was discovered that between the boards, there were large black sports bags, each with bricks of cocaine.

“The drugs weighed 600 kilograms with an estimated street value of R240 million,” Mbambo said.

She added that no arrests had been made yet pending the ongoing investigation.

The Hawks’ National Head, Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya, who is pleased with the seizure, said he appreciated the efforts of the DPCI members disrupting the supply of the drugs.

NO ARRESTS HAVE BEEN MADE YET

“With the cargo safely in good hands, we shall now be focussing on the perpetrators.

“I have further appointed a team on the recommendation of the Deputy National Head to cover ground in dealing with the drugs that were stolen in a burglary incident,” Lebeya said.

ALSO READ: Two arrested for possession of four tortoises, 28 rare lizards

WHO ARE THE HAWKS?

Hawks South Africa is a special unit that was established to face the rampant problems of organised crimes and corruption.

The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation has been established as an independent directorate within the South African Police Service in terms of Section 17C of the South African Police Service Act, 1995 as amended by the South African Police Service Amendment Act, 2008 (Act 57 of 2008).

The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation is now responsible for the combating, investigation and prevention of national priority crimes such as serious organized crime, serious commercial crime and serious corruption in terms of Section 17B and 17D of the South African Police Service Act, 1995 as amended.