Drugs with an estimated street value of R56m were seized from a cargo ship inbound from Brazil near the Durban harbour on Wednesday.

Recent figures released by the SAPS reveal that more than 23 000 people were arrested in possession of drugs between January and March this year. This includes drug traffickers at OR Tambo International Airport who police say, mostly arrive from Brazil.

Cocaine found in refrigeration units

According to the Zululand Observer, in Wednesday’s bust, the South African Revenue Service (Sars) led a collaborative intelligence-driven operation that intercepted a cargo ship near the Fairway Buoy at outer anchorage approximately 4 nautical miles offshore.

The ship was escorted to the harbour, where customs enforcement officers boarded the vessel and located several containers identified as posing a potential risk for smuggling.

“The inspection resulted in the discovery of 25 large bricks of suspected cocaine hidden in the refrigeration units of several containers.

“A field drug test was conducted and positively identified the goods as cocaine of a very high quality suitable for further dilution and expansion into larger volumes for illicit distribution.

“Customs seized the goods and handed it over to the SAPS for further safekeeping, investigation and prosecution,” said Sars in a statement.

Success due to collaboration with Brazil counterparts

SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter said: “This success points to the success of collaboration with our counterparts from Brazil. It is such collaboration that communicates concrete cooperation within BRICS countries that deal a heavy blow against organised crime syndicates.”

According to SAPS, more than 20 drug traffickers were intercepted at OR Tambo airport from December 2024 until May.

On March 7, police destroyed drugs worth R340m in the Western Cape. Police said that drugs worth R5.2b have been destroyed in the past three years.