Local News
Hawks bust cocaine worth R720 million at Port Elizabeth─── 11:01 Tue, 08 Jan 2019
The Hawks have seized tons of cocaine hidden at the bottom of a ship at the Port of Ngqura in Port Elizabeth.
National Head of the Hawks, Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya, said the estimated street value was worth R720 million.
“The cargo was concealed at the bottom of the floor of a ship - more than 3669 containers, which is 30 levels deep. It means that the crooks were determined to ensure nobody is going to detect this. It was designed to avoid detection.”
Lebeya said the Hawks had been working on the matter for the past 12 days.
He said the cargo was to be transported to Singapore before its final destination in India, added Lebeya.
The Port of Ngqura in Nelson Mandela Bay was launched by former President Jacob Zuma in 2012.
It is one the busiest ports in SA.
The container originated in Brazil and to date, this is the second biggest cocaine bust in South Africa.
