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SARS Customs indicated that the container in question was one of 10 that had a detention notice on 23 June 2021 but did not share specific reasons for the flagging.
“I was in contact with SARS Customs, and they indicated that the container in question was one of 10 that they had a detention notice on 23rd of June 2021. They did not share any specific information on why they had flagged this container.”
Warrant Officer Mpangase filed a detention notice from SARS Customs listing the container of interest among the 10 containers cited on 23 June 2021.
“Once I had learned, when I did look at the actual enquiry file, I noted that Warrant Officer Mpangase had filed a detention notice from SARS, from Customs and I noted that the container of interest, the one that we had searched, was listed amongst the 10 that were cited on this detention notice.”
On 23 June 2021, a 24-hour inspection entry was made referencing Warrant Officer Mpangase, including a direction to obtain witness statements, liaise with the DPP's office, bring SARS/Customs on board, and forward samples to the FSR.
“The entry on C 4, page 803, it is dated 23rd of June, 2021, and this is a 24-hour inspection... Obtain witness statement from all relevant role players. Request PCMC to profile all suspects and business entities. I say, liaise with the DPP's office. Enquire that SARS Customs is brought on board... And I made an entry here, forward samples taken to the FSR.”
On 5 February 2020, the Durban Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit seized 547 kilograms of suspected Mandrax hidden in a container offloaded from a vessel from China at the CHC depot in Prospect, Durban.
“On the 5th of February 2020, members of the DPCI Durban Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit were summoned to a crime scene at the CHC depot in Prospect in Durban, where SARS Customs detected the consignment of suspected Mandrax. The suspected Mandrax was hidden in a container that was offloaded from a vessel that originated from China. The crime scene was properly dealt with in terms of crime scene management principles. The exhibits were photographed, weighed and sealed in forensic evidence bags. The mass of the suspected Mandrax was 547 kilogrammes.”
On 23 February 2021, members of the DPCI Durban SOCI investigated a container at Green Africa Container Yard where SARS Customs detected 9.9 kilograms of methamphetamine hidden in the cargo; the crime scene was properly managed and exhibits were submitted to FSL in Amanzimtoti and confirmed as methamphetamine.
“On 23 February 2021, members of the DPCI Durban SOCI followed up upon information in relation to a container that was at Green Africa Container Yard. SARS Customs detected narcotics during the search of the container with 495 packages, and it was in total 9.9 kilogramme. Containing Methamphetamine was seized from where it was hidden in the cargo in the container. The crime scene was properly dealt with in terms of crime scene management principles. The exhibits were photographed and sealed in forensic evidence bags. The exhibits were booked in at Brighton Beach SAPS under a reference number, and the exhibits were submitted to FSL in Amanzimtoti ... FSL confirmed that the exhibits were Methamphetamine.”