cocaine

Evidence includes WhatsApp chats between Mr Van Wyk and Mr Matlala discussing cash transactions and alleged involvement in cocaine dealing.

“this is evidence of Mr Matlala and Mr Van Wyk involved in the dealing in Cocaine”

Mr Matlala sent Mr Van Wyk messages asking for a good price relating to cocaine and followed by a voice note saying 'we will go in at 02:50'.

“Mr Matlala sent Mr Van Wyk messages saying 'Get me a good price' ... Mr Van Wyk replied with a voice note saying 'We will go in at 02:50'”

Mr Van Wyk forwarded a message to Mr Matlala from a third party about readiness for the next day and noted important morning engagements, referring to bricks of cocaine being weighed out on video.

“Mr Van Wyk forwards to Mr Matlala ... 'Mike, are we ready to take tomorrow afternoon ... has got important engagement in the morning ...' Note refers to bricks of cocaine being weighed on video”

Brigadier Naicker visited Port Shepstone to inspect certain SANEB dockets and was informed about cocaine stored in a safe at an office, which caused discomfort due to inadequate security.

“On 20-21-07-29, Brigadier Naicker visited Port Shepstone as he needed to inspect certain SANEB dockets. He was accompanied by two members of Pretoria SOCI SANEB. Brigadier Naicker then spoke to me privately about the consignment of Cocaine that was stored in the safe at my office, and it was clear that he knew it was stored by us. I informed the Brigadier that I was not comfortable with it being stored in my office as the security of my office is not up to standard.”

Witness I confirms they initially thought the tip-off related to the Masoma inquiry concerned drugs covered by that inquiry, but later realized it was a completely different cocaine drug from Brazil, unrelated to the inquiry.

“by then I did not know how it came . That came about later on .”

Lt-Col Sibiya explains that a chain of custody issue over exhibits related to cocaine and mandrax was blamed on Warrant Officer Jooste after Lt-Col Jacob gave exhibits to Jooste who failed to deliver them to Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL).

“Colonel Jacob had handed over the exhibits to Warrant Officer Jooste, and then Warrant Officer Jooste was supposed to take the exhibits to Forensics, and he did not take them ..... he also submitted a chain statement to say that indeed they received the exhibits from Colonel Jacob and forwarded them to FSL ..... meanwhile, the exhibits were not received and the acknowledgement receipt could not be found.”

Between 8 May 2020 and 2 December 2024, six seizures were stored at SAPS Maydon Wharf, including a 32 kg cocaine seizure on 8 May 2020 and a 999 kg cocaine seizure on 30 July 2021.

“Now, paragraph 4 lists six records six seizures that were stored at SAPS Maydon Wharf from 8 May 2020 ... until the 2nd of December 2024 ... 32 kilograms of Cocaine received on the 8th of May 2020 ... 999 kg Cocaine received on 30 July 2021”

Colonel Jacob accepts responsibility for the loss of cocaine valued between 200 and 400 million and regrets not having done everything possible to protect it in hindsight.

“In hindsight, yes... If I knew it was going to turn out like this, I would have really exhausted all avenues to phone, do whatever I could to try and move it from there... I cannot tell you exactly what I would have done, but... I would have really put my mind to it and tried to achieve it.”

Advocate Khumalo questioned the assumed fact that the substance stolen on 8 November 2021 was cocaine valued approximately R200 million, noting the value can range considerably depending on the cocaine grade.

“What was stolen in November 8, 2021, is Cocaine, and the value of that Cocaine is approximately R 200 million ... depending on the grade ... the market value ... could easily have been 400, or could have been 00, or could have been 300.”

There was nothing wrong or red-flagged with the bone meal commodity itself, and the detention notice on the container was likely related to the drug content discovered and the point of origin port Santos.

“there was nothing wrong or there was nothing amiss with this commodity. There was nothing that was a red flag about the commodity itself. I think what was of interest was the port of origin, which was the port of Santos, which comes up frequently as one of the ports of origin of drugs, large consignments of Cocaine. So, it is possible it is based on that, but my suspicion is that they put a detention notice on it for the very same reason that we searched it”

When sending samples for analysis, the covering letter neglected to state the cocaine suspicion explicitly, though the sample was part of a larger consignment of 541 kilos.

“When I sent it for analysis, I just sent it, I said it is suspected Cocaine, and I am sending it through for analysis. It does not make provision, but still I think maybe I should have stated that it is a sample of a larger consignment of 541”

Lt-Col Duma was working with information about a consignment of 27 kilograms of cocaine but was not able to verify the exact source or quantity.

“The information that you had at the time was that there were 27 kilograms of Cocaine and that is the report ... That is all, yes.”

Paragraph 19 reports 26 canvas bags seized by DPCI members contained 20 1kg bricks of cocaine, plus one canvas bag containing 21 bricks, totaling 541 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated street value of about R243 450 million.

“The following exhibits that were seized by DPCI members were 26 canvas bags which contained 20 x 1kg bricks of Cocaine and 1 canvas bag contained 21 x 1kg of bricks Cocaine. In total, 541 kilograms of Cocaine were seized The estimated street value of the exhibits were about R243450 million”

Warrant Officer Sander participated in the paint bust operation and identified cocaine concealed in paint tins due to irregularities on the lids but did not act further.

“I was part of the team under a Commander. I can say it was easy. We spotted the paint tins because of irregularities on the lids, and then we identified the Cocaine and unpacked it. I did nothing further than that.”

Clan labs manufacture Methaqualone and Mandrax; cocaine bricks are waterproof and wrapped in multiple layers to prevent detection by smell or narcotics detection.

“Clan labs deal with respect of Methaqualone as well. ... The brick is transported by road and sea. If it gets dumped into the water, it must float or be able to be recovered. It is worth a lot of money. Therefore, it is waterproof. I have dismantled many, many, many Cocaine bricks. It is layer upon layer upon layer of cling wrap, latex housing, condoms, and then again more, and then tape, and then again more, to stop the fume coming out of the box, if I can say that.”

The cocaine found in the June 2021 bust would have been seen by the person opening the container as well as supervisors and Department of Health officials, implying they might have detected it.

“they would have presumably found the cocaine amongst that? ... It would have been the poor guy that opened that container from CHC. He would have been the first guy to see it. Then with him would have been the supervisor and the guys from the Department of Health. So the answer is in the end, yes.”

A WhatsApp chat appears in the newspaper article, showing participants discussing cocaine and containers, with threats to the police.

“there is something that appears to be a WhatsApp chat between two people... these people know that there was Cocaine and it belonged to somebody... Then send the pigs with the seal... I am getting heavy threats...”

The drug bust in Aeroton involved approximately 715 kilograms of cocaine.

“715 kilograms, yes”

The street value of one kilogram of cocaine is roughly R40,000.

“The street value of a kilogram of Cocaine is roughly R40000 per kilogram”

The total street value of the approximately 715 kilograms of cocaine seized is roughly R3 billion.

“so an amount this size is quite high value , it is roughly R3000000000”

For major drug consignments like heroin or cocaine that are not grown in South Africa, the matter typically becomes a DPCI responsibility due to international border trafficking.

“When you talk about a big consignment and specifically something like Heroin or Cocaine that is not grown in South Africa... it would be a DPCI matter.”

Although analysis was not yet done, from previous experience it was believed these bricks were cocaine weighing more or less a kilogram.

“We did not at that stage determine it was Cocaine per se . But out of previous experience ... we believe that this was bricks of Cocaine weighing more or less a kilogram”

When Colonel Prinsloo was contacted by Brigadier Nyuswa to make the safe available for transferring cocaine, guns were removed, cocaine was placed inside the safe, keys were handed over to Nyuswa, and an occurrence book entry made after they left, but the handing over form for keys was not completed.

“Once I was contacted by Brigadier Nyuswa to make the safe available for him to bring it ... We removed all the firearms, placed the drugs in there, and then the keys were handed to them. We made the OB entry after they had left ... No, we did not complete this form.”

There was no official register at Port Shepstone office recording officers who came to deliver the cocaine.

“Warrant Officer Van Berg made an OB entry for each time that they came, exact time they came, exact time they left. But as such, like a visiting register there, no we do not have that...”

The SAP 13 entry dated 22-06-2021 describes a DPCI inquiry number related to the investigation and refers to a package containing suspected cocaine.

“there is an entry 373 dated 22-06-2021... it is just reflecting 41, and then in brackets 541, multi one kilogram brick containing powder suspected to be Cocaine”

The exhibits referred to are suspected cocaine and no analysis was conducted on them despite them being taken for analysis initially.

“the exhibits were in fact Cocaine”

In October 2021, an allegation was made that the Forensic Science Laboratory was contacted to expedite the analysis report but the FSL did not have space to store exhibits; no attempts were made to increase security or move the cocaine to a more secure location after an attempted break-in, despite prior significant seizures of cocaine at the premises.

“There is an allegation that FSL was again contacted on 27 October 2021 to expedite the analysis report. However, Warrant Officer Setshe reiterated that FSL did not have space to store the exhibits. This is after FSL had received 700 kilograms of Cocaine seized in Aeroton in July 2021. Curiously, no attempts were made to increase security at the premises or to move the Cocaine to a more secure location after the attempted break-in.”

General Flynn prepared a supplementary statement analyzing and comparing events related to 541 kilograms of cocaine seized since June 2021 with other drug busts and seizures in Durban during 2020 to 2022.

“in your supplementary statement in paragraph 1 that you prepared this statement to deal with the analysis that you conducted, where you compared the events that transpired relating to 541 kilograms of Cocaine seized since June 2021 and stolen from police custody in November 2021 and you do that comparison with other drug busts, seizures in Durban in the period 2020 to 2022”

There was never an intention to submit or test the seized drugs (541 kilograms of cocaine) at the Forensic Science Laboratory, raising concerns about handling and recording.

“there was never an intention to submit these drugs to FSL. And that is why I am reflecting now on all the other cases where predominantly the crime scenes were dealt with correctly and the exhibits found its way into a SAP13... it was never stolen or tampered with and then submitted to FSL... It is my strong view that there was never an intention to submit it to FSL... It looks to me like there was never an intention to submit the drugs to FSL. There was never an intention to have them tested.”

General Senona was involved in the decision to take the cocaine to Port Shepstone and he kept the key; he played an active role and was privy to the activities.

“General Senona was involved in the decision to take the drugs, the Cocaine, to Port Shepstone. And in the end, he kept the key ... He visited the Port Shepstone offices shortly after the seizure and took possession of the key. That is active participation ... He was privy to the activities.”

The information note details that General Mosikili travelled to KwaZulu-Natal and met with Provincial Head Major General Senon, who submitted a report regarding the incident summarizing the seizure of the drugs in June 2021.

“General Mosikili refers to, it says that she travelled to KwaZulu-Natal and met with the Provincial Head, Major General Senon. Subsequently, the Provincial Head submitted a report regarding the incident, and it is summarized as follows... starts with the seizure of the drugs in June 2021”

Cocaine and heroin enter South Africa commonly through established transnational maritime routes involving multiple countries and are produced mainly in South American countries and Afghanistan.

“Cocaine and heroin enter South Africa commonly through established transnational maritime routes involving multiple countries. Cocaine is typically transported from South America via West Africa. Heroin is commonly transported from regions such as Afghanistan through East Africa like Mozambique and into South Africa.”

Cocaine and heroin are smuggled into South Africa primarily for the local market but also repackaged for onward trafficking overseas, usually to Europe. Port authorities are vigilant about vessels from the Port of Santos due to drug trafficking prevalence. Successful entry into Europe is more likely if the consignment is rerouted through less suspicious countries before onward movement to Europe.

“Cocaine and heroin are smuggled into the country primarily for the local market but is also repackaged for onward trafficking to another country. In other words, the criminal grouping in South Africa would assist in repackaging the drugs to make it easier for onwards smuggling to another country, usually to Europe. Port authorities are particularly vigilant when vessels arrive from Port of Santos because of the prevalence of drug trafficking from that port. Successful entry into Europe is more likely if the consignment is rerouted to less suspicious countries before onwards movement to Europe.”

Different drugs require different storage space due to physical volume differences; for example, 547 kg of dagga takes much more space than 541 kg of cocaine.

“the kilograms may not necessarily be the determinant with regard to the space needed for storage. Take dagga for example, 547 or 541 kg’s of dagga would take much, much more space than 541 kg’s of cocaine”

Mandrax is compressed into tablets and packaged predominantly in thousands of tablets per package, similar in volume to cocaine when stored.

“Mandrax basically is tablets. So it is also compressed into tablets and then packaged predominantly in thousand tablets per package”

Seized exhibits of 547 kg Mandrax booked in at Isipingo SAPS armory, a police station known not to have capacity, and unclear why 541 kg of cocaine could not be stored there six months later.

“The exhibits, 547 kilograms, were booked in at Isipingo SAPS and kept in the armoury, the same police station that apparently is known not to have capacity”

Concern about Isipingo police station's capacity and risk profile for storing seized cocaine was not clarified as to why drugs were not stored at a closer police station to Isipingo.

“If the concerns regarding Isipingo's capacity and risk profile were considerations in the decision to store the seized cocaine elsewhere, it is unclear why the cocaine was not stored at the police station closer to Isipingo”

A drug bust on 30 July 2021 involved approximately 1,000 kg cocaine stored at Maydon Wharf.

“One of those enquiries was the 30 July 2021, approximately 1,000 kilogram cocaine bust”

Seizure on 16 February 2022 of 530 kg cocaine properly managed as crime scene, exhibits booked at Umbilo SAPS and submitted to Forensic Science Laboratory on 24 February 2022.

“Seizure on 16 February 2022 of 530 kilograms of cocaine ... The exhibits were booked in at Umbilo SAPS and submitted to the Forensic Science Laboratory on 24 February 2022”

The cocaine seized could not be stored at the usual facility in Isipingo unlike previous seizures of Mandrax.

“16 months previously 547 kilograms of Mandrax had been stored at Isipingo, all of a sudden 541 kg's of cocaine could not be stored there”

A total of 541 kilograms of cocaine seized on 22 June 2021 was stolen from the DPCI Port Shepstone strongroom during 6 to 8 November 2021 by gaining entry with a grinder.

“During the period 6 to 8 November 021, the 541 kilograms of cocaine seized on 22 June 2021 was stolen from the DPCI Port Shepstone strongroom with the use of a grinder to gain entry”