South Africa’s border police have seized R12.8 million worth of cocaine found hidden in an empty container that was due to be exported from the Port of Ngqura in the Eastern Cape.
South African Police Services (SAPS) spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said border police had seized 32 cakes of cocaine last week.
“Border Police officers attached to the Ngqura seaport in the Eastern Cape have seized 32 blocks of cocaine worth a street value of R12.8m,” Mathe said.
“The drugs were found stashed in an empty cargo container earlier this week. The container was due to transport fruit from South Africa to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). An investigation is currently under way to determine the origin and destination of the drugs,” Mathe said.
It is understood that police found the drugs at the Port of Ngqura border post. The drugs were packed in plastic bags bearing “Cash Teddy Phillip Plein” labels.
She said that the police were conducting high-density operations, through Operation Shanela, to remove more drugs off the streets of South Africa.
“Since its inception on 08 May 2023, 1 686 suspects have been arrested for dealing in drugs in South Africa,” Mathe said.
No arrests have been made in connection with the latest cocaine bust.
National police commissioner General Fannie Masemola said earlier this month that Operation Shanela had led to the arrest of 21 200 suspects for various crimes ranging from murder and rape to malicious damage to property.
In an unrelated incident, the Nelspruit Specialised Commercial Crime Court sentenced Simon Kawomba, 37, to imprisonment or a fine after he was found guilty of 4 435 counts of contravening the Counterfeit Goods Act, Act 37 of 1997 and the Trademark Act, Act 194 of 1993.
He was sentenced to a R200 000 fine or two years’ imprisonment of which R100 000 or one year is suspended for five years on condition he is not convicted of the same offence again in the period of suspension.
Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) spokesperson, Warrant Officer Thandi Tshabalala, said Kawomba's sentencing came after he was found “unlawfully possessing, in control of, or transporting counterfeit branded clothing being sneakers, sandals and jeans with an estimated street value in excess of R2.2m from Mozambique into South Africa”.
He was arrested near the Lebombo port of entry in Komatipoort on November 11, 2022 while he was working as a driver for the Mbombela company, Cruise Cargo courier.
