Durban Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit

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 8 May 2020, Durban Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit seized 35 kilograms of suspected cocaine from a container offloaded from vessel Polonia from the Port of Santos in Brazil; exhibits submitted to FSL in Amanzimtoti on 21 May 2020.

“On 8 May 2020, members of the DPCI Durban Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit followed up upon information in relation to a container that was already offloaded from the vessel Polonia that originated from the Port of Santos in Brazil. Upon further investigation, 35 kilogramme bricks of suspected Cocaine were recovered from a container. The cocaine had the logos Nautica, BMW, MTA, Z and on the wrappings. 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 mass of the suspected Cocaine was 35 kilogrammes. The exhibits were booked in at Maydon Wharf SAP 13 SAPS under a specific reference number. The exhibits were submitted to the Forensic Science Laboratory in Amanzimtoti on 21 May 020. FSL confirmed that the exhibits are cocaine.”