EIGHT bags of pure cocaine with an estimated value of over R80 million were found concealed inside a container at the Durban Harbour on December 2.

KZN police spokesperson, Colonel Robert Netshiunda, said the vessel was monitored until November 30 when it docked at the Durban Harbour.

Also read: Law enforcement officers check food-safety compliance in the south of Durban

The identified container was taken to a warehouse on South Coast Road near The Bluff by the police for a proper search. Netshiunda confirmed that this was the same warehouse where imported expired food was recently found.

“The warehouse is used to store goods coming from the Durban Harbour and the owners will then come and collect them there,” said Netshiunda.

The vessel came from South America to deliver a shipment to South Africa

Netshiunda said the police received information about the vessel which left Brazil at the beginning of November and was carrying pure crushed cocaine which was disguised as kidney beans.

“During the search the eight bags of cocaine were found and, according to the documentation, the shipment was destined for Johannesburg. Investigations are underway to uncover the people behind the drugs,” Netshiunda added.

On November 20, the police found expired food from two warehouses in the corner of South Coast and Bluff Roads.

It is alleged that the warehouses were importing the goods from other countries and stored them at their premises.

Food items such as canned fish, fizzy drinks, soya beans and baby food and spices which were mostly used on chips, were found stored with hazardous chemicals such as pesticides.

The police are still looking for the owners of the warehouses.

For more Southlands Sun news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and get news delivered straight to your inbox.