The Durban Harbour police seized a cocaine shipment worth R151 million, hidden in meat boxes, in what was yet another significant drug bust from Brazil.
Durban Harbour authorities intercept R151 million cocaine shipment
On Monday, 4 December 2023, following up on key intelligence, the police monitored a container arriving from Brazil.
A multidisciplinary team conducted a thorough inspection at a cold storage facility, uncovering 433 blocks of cocaine ingeniously disguised in meat boxes. The seized drugs have an estimated value of R151 million.
Despite the successful seizure, no arrests have been made yet. The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) has taken over the investigation, Durban authorities confirmed in a statement.
SIMILAR – Durban harbour authorities confiscate R400 million worth of fake luxury goods
This seizure represents the third massive drug bust at Durban Harbour in just two months.
In a similar operation in October 2023, cocaine worth R150 million was intercepted by the same team, highlighting the port’s role as a critical point in the international drug trade.
UN report names South Africa as key cocaine ‘transit’ route
A recent Interpol Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Vienna saw a pivotal gathering between SAPS National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola, and the Brazilian Federal Police Chief, Andrei Passos Rodrigues.
The pair discussed the concerning trend of drug influx from Brazilian ports into South Africa. This meeting resulted in a decision to enhance cooperation between the two countries, which has already shown significant success in sharing information on drugs and counteracting international crime syndicates.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s (UNODC) 2023 Global Cocaine Report found an uptick in maritime drug trafficking towards South Africa since the onset of the pandemic.
The report further elucidated that a significant portion of these narcotics likely finds its way to other countries, underscoring South Africa’s concerning position as a transit country in the global drug trade.
