A cocaine shipment valued at R55 million was intercepted at the Gqeberha seaport, marking a significant seizure.
Gqeberha seaport seizure costs cartels R55 million in lost cocaine haul
In a major crackdown on drug trafficking, law enforcement authorities at the seaport in Gqeberha seized a large quantity of cocaine arriving from Brazil on Thursday, 2 November 2023.
The narcotics, with a street value of R55 million, were found aboard a vessel in 35 compressed blocks.
The successful operation stemmed from actionable intelligence that led the members of the Gqeberha seaport to target this specific vessel as it docked.
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Despite the substantial find, no arrests have been reported at this stage. A full-scale investigation into the drug trafficking incident is underway, police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed in a statement.
This seizure is part of a larger enforcement wave, marking it as the third significant drug bust in just three weeks.
Previous operations in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) resulted in the confiscation of cocaine with an estimated street value of R150 million.
General Fannie Masemola, the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), lauded the diligence of the seaport team for this latest bust.
He highlighted the continuous efforts of the police force in combating crime and drug trafficking across South Africa.
“Intelligence is at work, our members are on the ground throughout the country, clamping down on all forms of criminality. Day in day out we continue to confiscate large quantities of these drugs, SA is not a playground for criminals,” he said.
