DURBAN (South Africa), Sept 5 (NNN-SANEWS) — The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has made a cocaine bust of some R56 million after a vessel was intercepted off the east coast of Durban.
According to the revenue service, the bust was as a result of a collaborative intelligence-driven operation.
“A Customs Marine Patrol vessel intercepted a cargo ship near the Fairway Bouy at outer anchorage approximately 4 nautical miles off the east coast of Durban and escorted it to its berth in the harbour. Customs enforcement officers boarded the vessel and located a number of containers identified prior to the arrival of the vessel as posing a potential risk for smuggling.
“The inspection resulted in the discovery of 25 large bricks of suspected cocaine hidden in the refrigeration units of several containers. A field drug test was conducted and positively identified the goods as cocaine of a very high quality suitable for further dilution and expansion into larger volumes for illicit distribution,” SARS said.
The goods have been seized and handed over to the South African Police Service (SAPS) for “further safe keeping, investigation and prosecution”.
SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter said the bust came is as a result of collaboration with Brazilian counterparts.
“It is such collaboration that communicates concrete cooperation within BRICS countries that deal a heavy blow against organised crime syndicates. This achievement also signals that the efforts by all law enforcement agencies in our county are taking on the challenge of protecting our borders,” Kieswetter said. — NNN-SANEWS
