By Mapaballo Borotho
- Thirty bricks of cocaine were seized at the Port of Durban during a joint operation by SARS Customs and the Hawks.
- The drugs were discovered in a container vessel that originated from South America after officials noticed signs of tampering.
- The seizure comes just days after another major cocaine bust on the KwaZulu-Natal coast, with investigations continuing.
Thirty bricks of cocaine were seized at the Port of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal on Tuesday, 09 June 2026.
The seizure was conducted by the South African Revenue Service (SARS) and the Hawks.
This comes shortly after another major seizure of approximately 90kg of cocaine along the KwaZulu-Natal coast three days earlier. The cocaine bricks were allegedly concealed in containers arriving from Brazil.
“On Tuesday, a container vessel originating from South America was identified for inspection upon arrival at the Port of Durban.
The Durban Customs team boarded the vessel and located the targeted container, which was positioned below the waterline.
During the inspection process, Customs officials identified signs that parts of the container apparatus had been tampered with.
This prompted a more intrusive inspection, which led to the discovery of concealed narcotics. A mobile testing kit subsequently confirmed the substance to be 30 bricks of pure cocaine,” said Hawks spokesperson Katlego Mogale.
Acting National Head of the Hawks, Lieutenant General Sphesihle Nkosi, said the latest seizure highlights the importance of cooperation between law enforcement agencies.
“These successes are the result of disciplined cooperation. When we pool our capabilities, we are better able to detect, intercept and investigate complex criminal operations.
Drug trafficking is not only a law enforcement issue; it is a national threat. It fuels violence, weakens communities and harms our children,” said Nkosi.
Investigations into the origin, destination and intended recipients of the cocaine are ongoing.
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