A multidisciplinary team led by the South African Police Service (SAPS) Organised Crime Investigations (OCI) unit seized 380 kg of cocaine worth a street value of R171 million at the Durban Harbour on Friday.
Acting SAPS National Commissioner, Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili says this drug bust demonstrates that police are intensifying their efforts in disrupting and dismantling organised drug trafficking syndicates.
The SAPS reported that it was acting on intelligence driven information of a vessel that was coming into the country from South America on Thursday 23 February 2023.
The OCI unit immediately operationalized the information and conducted surveillance where they identified the vessel. Together with the South African Revenue Service (SARS) customs officials and K9 dogs, the teams identified the container on Friday morning, with twelve bags of cocaine.
“Well done to all teams involved including our Transnational Drug Trafficking investigations unit. This should send a stern warning to all drug traffickers utilising our harbours that South Africa continues to intensify its efforts to dismantle and disrupt the global drug trafficking trade”, said Lt Gen Mosikili.
SAPS said no arrests have been made and investigations are continuing to establish the source and destination of the drugs.
