South African authorities have intercepted another shipment of cocaine at the Port of Durban, underscoring increasing efforts by law enforcement agencies to disrupt international drug trafficking networks operating through the country’s major trade gateways.
The latest seizure was carried out by the South African Revenue Service (SARS) and the Hawks during a targeted inspection of a vessel that arrived from South America.
The discovery follows another major cocaine bust at the same port just days earlier, raising concerns about the scale of narcotics smuggling operations targeting South Africa.
Intelligence-led operation uncovers hidden cocaine
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), customs officials identified a container for inspection after intelligence-driven risk profiling flagged the vessel as a potential concern.
Upon boarding the ship, Durban Customs officials located the targeted container, which was positioned below the vessel’s waterline.
Inspectors noticed signs that parts of the container structure had been tampered with, prompting a more extensive search.
The operation led to the discovery of 30 concealed bricks of cocaine. Field testing later confirmed the substance as pure cocaine.
Authorities have not yet disclosed the exact weight or street value of the latest seizure, and investigations are continuing to determine those responsible.
The successful operation forms part of ongoing efforts by SARS, the Hawks and customs authorities to strengthen security at South Africa’s ports, which remain critical entry points for international trade.
Back-to-back seizures expose trafficking routes
The latest discovery comes shortly after another significant cocaine seizure at Durban Port on 6 June.
In that operation, customs officials uncovered 90 kilograms of cocaine valued at approximately 36 million rand hidden inside two excavators imported from Santos, Brazil.
Investigators found the first batch concealed behind panels leading to an excavator’s engine compartment. While processing that discovery, officials located a second hidden cache in another machine that had already been unloaded from the vessel.
The combined haul amounted to 90 kilograms of suspected cocaine distributed across 90 blocks.
SARS Commissioner Dr Johnstone Makhubu and Hawks Acting National Head Lieutenant General Sphesihle Nkosi said the seizures demonstrate the effectiveness of coordinated law enforcement operations and intelligence-sharing between government agencies.
The officials warned that organised crime groups continue to exploit international shipping routes to move narcotics across continents, but stressed that authorities are strengthening efforts to identify and dismantle those networks.
The latest drug busts also come amid broader scrutiny of South Africa’s handling of seized narcotics.
The Madlanga Commission is currently investigating allegations that drugs stored in police custody were stolen, including the disappearance of cocaine worth hundreds of millions of rand from law enforcement facilities.
One of the most prominent cases involves the theft of 541 kilograms of cocaine valued at approximately 200 million rand from a Hawks office in Port Shepstone in 2021. Another investigation centres on more than 715 kilograms of cocaine seized in Johannesburg, portions of which allegedly disappeared while under police control.
As authorities continue to tighten security at ports and storage facilities, the latest Durban seizures highlight both the scale of international trafficking operations and the challenges facing South Africa’s anti-drug enforcement agencies.
Source: South African Police Service (SAPS), South African Revenue Service (SARS), Hawks