Police in KwaZulu-Natal have recovered pure cocaine worth an estimated R80 million after it was found concealed inside a container at the Durban Harbour on Monday 2 December.
Police received information about a vessel which left Brazil at the beginning on November and was carrying pure cocaine which was disguised as kidney beans. The vessel, which came to South Africa via another country, was monitored until Saturday, 30 November, when it docked at the Durban Harbour. The identified container was taken to a warehouse on South Coast Road in the Bluff area for a proper search.
During the search, eight bags of crushed pure cocaine were found and according to the documentation, the shipment was destined for Johannesburg. Investigations are underway to uncover the people behind the drugs, the South African Police Service said in a statement.
“We commend the excellent work being done by members of various law enforcement agencies to ensure that we close ranks. We are sending a strong message to all criminal syndicates that we are on high alert, we have adopted a zero-tolerance stance against all criminal activity,” said KZN Premier Thami Ntuli.
Large drug shipments have often been discovered coming through Durban Harbour. On 4 December 2023, 433 blocks of cocaine with a street value of R151 million was intercepted at Durban Harbour and found disguised in meat boxes.
In October last year, police tracked containers arriving in Durban Harbour from Brazil, discovering 228 blocks of cocaine in meat boxes worth R80 million. Just days before, R70 million worth of cocaine was also seized from a container at the Durban Harbour.
In January this year, more than half a billion rands’ worth of seized drugs were destroyed by law enforcement. These were confiscated during police operations in KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Free State, Gauteng, North West and Mpumalanga. They included cocaine, heroin, mandrax and cannabis. In the 2022/2023 financial year, six tons of drugs were seized and destroyed with a value of R2 billion.
From October 2023 to January 2024, police intercepted four massive drug consignments: three in Durban and one in Gqeberha.
Some of the drugs that were destroyed in January include those that were seized during the following drug busts:
A Durban Harbour case where 700 kg of cannabis worth a street value of R21 million was seized;
A Durban harbour case where 530 kg of cocaine worth an estimated street value of R185 million was seized;
A Durban Harbour case where 223 kg tablets containing Fenethyllin – a nervous system stimulant worth R17.5 million – was seized;
652 kg of Mandrax tablets worth R98 million, confiscated at a clandestine laboratory;
Heroine worth a street value of R28 million, seized from vehicles travelling from Mozambique to South Africa;
Drugs confiscated at OR Tambo International Airport worth R17 million.
