The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) in South Africa (SA) have seized approximately 90 kilogram of drugs with an estimated street value of R36 million ($2 172 million) at the Port of Durban, Kwa Zulu Natal province on Saturday.
Customs officials intercepted the suspected cocaine and alerted members of the SA Narcotics Enforcement Bureau (Saneb), which falls under the Hawks.
The crime-fighting agency says they will send the drugs to a Forensic Science Laboratory for chemical analysis.
The Directorate’s Spokesperson, Katlego Mogale says, “Members of the Saneb were alerted by a customs official to suspected cocaine concealed within an excavator that had arrived at the Q and R Car Terminal from Santos, Brazil.”
“Upon arrival, the scene was handed over to Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation members by Customs officials. A thorough inspection of the excavator revealed suspicious packages concealed within a panel leading to the engine compartment. Further examination resulted in the seizure of 47 blocks containing a powdered substance suspected to be cocaine.”
Mogale adds, “While the first scene was being processed, customs officials reported the discovery of a second concealment on another excavator that had already been offloaded from the vessel. A subsequent inspection led to the seizure of an additional 43 blocks of suspected cocaine.”
–SABC–
