KwaZulu-Natal law enforcement officers have uncovered a staggering R151 million worth of cocaine hidden in meat boxes at Durban harbor. The seizure marks the third significant drug bust in the region over the past two months.
National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe revealed that the container, originating from Brazil, was intercepted on Monday night. A specialized team conducted a thorough inspection at a cold storage facility, revealing 433 blocks of cocaine cleverly concealed within meat boxes.
Mathe stated, “No arrests have been made, and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI or Hawks) has taken over the investigation.”
This recent incident follows a pattern of tracking containers arriving in Durban from Brazil. In a previous operation at Dube Trade Port, law enforcement seized 228 blocks of cocaine from a targeted container.
In a separate event within the same month, the Hawks uncovered R70 million worth of drugs at the harbor, originating from a vessel also en route from Brazil. Mathe explained that a multidisciplinary operation led to the seizure of 20-liter paint containers, within which the illicit substances were concealed.