A cargo container that was due to transport fruit from South Africa to the United Arab Emirates was instead found stashed with drugs worth an estimated R12.8 million.
National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said Border Police officers attached to the Ngqura sea port in the Eastern Cape seized 32 blocks of cocaine worth a street value running into the millions.
She said the drugs were found stored in a supposedly ‘empty’ cargo container earlier this week.
The container was due to transport fruit from South Africa to the UAE.
Brigadier Mathe said an investigation is currently underway to determine the origin and destination of the drugs.
“Through Operation Shanela, the SAPS continues to conduct high density operations to remove more drugs off the streets of South Africa.
Since its inception on 08 May 2023, 1 686 suspects were arrested for dealing in drugs in South Africa,” she said.