Police recover over R80 million worth of drugs at Durban Harbour
Yet another drug consignment was recovered at the Durban Harbour yesterday. This time, police recovered pure cocaine worth tens of millions which was concealed inside a shipping container.
POLICE received information about a vessel that left Brazil at the beginning of November and was carrying pure cocaine worth more than R80 million, which was disguised as kidney beans. The vessel, which came to South Africa via another country, was reportedly monitored until Saturday, November 30, 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,” explained police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda.
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KwaZulu-Natal premier Thamsanqa Ntuli applauded members of law enforcement for their excellent work and for acting with speed and efficiency which enabled them to intercept the shipping container.
He said, “Increased police surveillance at targeted crime hotspot areas is yielding positive results as law enforcement intelligence operations continue to thwart criminal activity in all the corners of the province. We recognise the efforts by the Border Management Authority (BMA), who are working around the clock to tighten security measures at all ports of entry and borders of the province.”
“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. We reassure the people of KwaZulu-Natal that targeted intelligence-driven operations will be affected throughout the festive season and beyond. Our provincial government has called for augmented numbers of police deployed during this period, especially at identified crime hotspots like the Durban Harbour. We are going to clamp down on all crime elements in our province,” added the honourable premier.
Ntuli encouraged community members to continue coming forward with critical information to assist law enforcement in cracking down on criminal activity in our province.
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