On 12 October 2025, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) announced that its Durban Customs office had conducted a collaborative intelligence operation at the Durban harbour at approximately 02:45 in the morning. The operation resulted in the seizure of 30 bricks of suspected narcotics that were in the reefer refrigeration unit of a vessel, with an estimated street value of R65,000,000.
The drugs were handed over to the South African Police Service (SAPS) Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) for further investigation, prosecution and destruction.
The Durban Customs Enforcement Team (Enforcement Team) launched the Customs Marine Unit Patrol Vessel/Striker to intercept the motor vessel near the Fairway Bouy at Outer Anchorage, about four nautical miles from Durban. The enforcement team intercepted the vessel as it was entering the port and escorted it to its berth. They boarded the vessel, interviewed the master of the vessel, and examined documentation to identify the location of a profiled container. They rummaged in the vessel, locating the container on board, where the refrigeration unit was examined, resulting in one positive detection of bricks of suspected narcotics.