The South African Revenue Service (SARS) said its Durban Customs office conducted a collaborative intelligence operation in the early morning of 12 October, leading to the seizure from a refrigeration unit of the vessel.

A Customs marine unit patrol vessel was used to intercept a vessel near the Fairway Bouy at Outer Anchorage about 4 nautical miles of the East Coast of Durban. The Enforcement Team intercepted the vessel as it was entering the port and escorted the vessel to its berth. The Enforcement Team Boarded the vessel, interviewed the Master, and examined documentation to identify the location of a profiled container.

The container was located and resulted in one positive detection of bricks of suspected narcotics, SARS said in a statement.

The drugs were handed over to the South African Police Service’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) for further investigation, prosecution and destruction.

SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter expressed his gratitude to the SARS Customs and other law enforcement agencies for their work. Customs demonstrated its gallantry by working so hard and in the dead of night, he said. “This speaks to an unwavering commitment by SARS to protect our borders and keep at bay all criminals that are bent on shipping harmful substance that cause unmitigated suffering for our inhabitants.”

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Police were tracing the suspects, allegedly linked to the shooting of five people on Siyaphambili Road in Tshelimnyama, Mariannhill, on Sunday night. Five men were seated on the side of the road drinking alcohol when the suspects arrived in a vehicle armed with pistols and a rifle and ordered the victims to lie down before shooting them.

Police followed information regarding the suspects, who were believed to be hiding in Newlands East. Upon arrival, further intelligence established that the suspects were in a rented holiday apartment on South Beach Avenue in the Point area of Durban, the SAPS said. When police announced their presence, the suspects opened fire, and a shootout ensued. All six suspects were shot and fatally wounded during the shootout, with no police officers sustaining any injuries.

The suspects are allegedly further linked to a triple murder, where three men were shot and killed near a tuckshop on the Minitown main road in Mpumalanga township, in Hammersdale on Friday afternoon. They are also believed to be responsible for a Friday evening robbery at a shop on the ground floor of the apartment building they were found in. Police further believe the suspects were involved in the illicit drug trade.

Prior to a search of the apartment, police found three firearms, which will be subjected to ballistic testing to ascertain if they are linked to other crimes. Police are investigating the person who booked the room for the suspects.

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The South African Police Service (SAPS) said a multidisciplinary operation involving the police, Metro Police, Correctional Services, Home Affairs and other law enforcement agencies was aimed at stamping the authority of the state and raiding of hijacked buildings in and around the Durban CBD.

Six buildings were raided and one of them was found to be a municipality-owned building which was illegally occupied, and a person who was allegedly collecting rent money from illegal residents of that building was taken in for questioning.

During the operation, a total of 117 rounds of ammunition of various calibre of firearms and large amounts of liquor were recovered and seized. Two of the hijacked building had their illegal water and electricity connections disconnected.

One suspect was also arrested after he was found in possession of cocaine and crystal meth as well as an undisclosed amount of money.

The operation continues with police searching for suspects who are believed to be in possession of illegal firearms, the SAPS said in a statement.

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eThekwini municipal spokesperson Gugu Sisilana said the suspected hydrochloric acid was from a tanker on the N3 eastbound just before the Pavilion Shopping Centre.

“Motorists and road users are urgent to avoid the N3 both bounds and take alternative routes. All emergency services are currently at the scene.”

“Inhalation of the hydrochloric acid may cause eye, nose, and respiratory tract irritation and inflammation in humans,” said Sisilana.

She said members of the public who may be in the vicinity are advised to wear masks or cover their noses with a damp cloth to avoid inhaling the poisonous gas.

“Further updates will be communicated,” Sisilana added.

ALS Paramedics spokesperson Garrith Jamieson said initial reports from first responders were that the spillage was a white hazy substance that caught the back of the throat, and caused chest discomfort and abdominal pain.

“Immediately all role-players were dispatched including the eThekwini Fire Department’s chemical unit. Paramedics also made their way but obviously stayed on the outside of the perimeter,” he said.

Paramedics found that five people suffered the symptoms such as battling to breathe.

“Three people, who had been frontline and had been trying to assist other motorists to stop from going further, were treated on scene by paramedics before they were transported to hospital for the further care they required,” Jamieson said.

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Residents in surrounding areas reported they had heard a loud explosion.

ALS Paramedics spokesman Garrith Jamieson said numerous calls of an explosion and robbery was received just after 5:30am.

“Paramedics proceeded in the direction of the incident and waited on the all clear from SAPS before made their way onto the scene.”

“Paramedics arrived on the scene to find that a cash in transit vehicle had been attacked by alleged robbers with apparent explosives used. Paramedics assessed the occupants of the cash vehicle however fortunately they were not injured during the robbery,” he said.

Jamieson said the N2 northbound carriageway would be closed for some time to allow SAPS to investigate this incident/

“I would recommend all motorists to avoid this area at all costs.”

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KwaZulu-Natal police spokesman Colonel Robert Netshiunda said police were looking for injured suspects, who fled from the scene on Phoenix Highway. Two suspects were killed during the gunfight.

“Nearby hospitals and medical centres have been informed about the shootout and that they should report any patient with suspected gunshot wounds to the police,” he said.

Netshiunda explained the suspects were linked to a cash-in-transit robbery in Kranskop on Monday afternoon.

“A multidisciplinary team the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (DPCI), Provincial Tracking and Tracing Team, Tactical Response Team (TRT) and K9 Unit were searching for the suspects who had committed a cash in transit robbery in Kranskop on Monday afternoon.”

Three rifles and a pistol, several rounds of ammunition as well as an undisclosed amount of money were found in possession of the suspects.

Colonel Robert Netshiunda

“After an extensive search throughout the night, the suspects were spotted at Bhamshela in Tongaat early this morning and having defied police’s instruction to stop, a high-speed chase continued.”

The suspects’ vehicle then crashed against a lamp pole along the Phoenix Highway and the suspects got out of the vehicle and started shooting at the police.

“A shootout ensued and two suspects were fatally shot, one next to the vehicle whereas the other was shot inside a residence where he had run into as he continued shooting at the police,” said Netshiunda.

Another suspect was later arrested when he was located at a block of flats with gunshot wounds.

“The search for the other suspects is underway with police following blood stains into the bushes. Though no police officer was injured, a police vehicle was sprayed with bullets from the suspects,” said Netshiunda.

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ALS Paramedics spokesman Garrith Jamieson urged all motorists to remain cautious.

“It appears there are multiple taxi blockades in and around the Durban area. Earlier this morning, Umgeni Road in the Greyville area was blocked by taxis and currently the N3, both Durban and Pinetown-bound have been blocked by taxis.”

“The South African Police Service and Metro Police are making their way to the scene but the queues of traffic are already kilometres long. I would advise all motorists to avoid the N3 going into Durban or leaving Durban for sometime to avoid being caught in this traffic,” he said.

On Thursday, taxi drivers blockaded roads in Port Shepstone on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast over a “permit issue.”

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ALS Paramedics spokesman Garrith Jamieson said the shooting occurred on Rick Turner Road.

“Around 11:20am this morning ALS Paramedics received numerous call for medical assistance at a shooting incident on Rick Turner Rd near Queen Mary Avenue. Paramedics arrived on the scene to find South African Police Service (SAPS) and security personnel on the scene with the scene cordoned off.”

“Paramedics were shown to a security officer believed to be in his thirties who was in a critical condition having sustained a gunshot wound to his upper body. Advanced Life Support Paramedics worked to stabilise the man on the scene before he rushed to a nearby Hospital for the urgent care that he required,” he said

Jamieson said it was alleged that suspects robbed the guard of money however SAPS were on the scene and will be investigating further.

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