COLONEL FRANCOIS STEYN

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”

Colonel Francois Steyn joined the South African Police Service in 1987 and worked in various units including Vehicle Theft Unit, Vehicle Finance Fraud Unit, Organised Crime Unit and Serious Organised Crime Unit with increasing ranks, currently serving as Unit Commander in West Rand Serious Organised Crime Unit.

“I joined the South African Police Service in 1987... transferred to the Hillbrow Vehicle Theft Unit...promoted to captain ...Unit Commander of the Vehicle Finance Fraud Unit...Organised Crime Unit in Pretoria...promoted to Senior Superintendent ...Unit Commander of East Rand Organised Crime Unit... transferred to Priority Violent Crime Unit as Team Leader ... Provincial Coordinator for SANEB ... transferred to West Rand Serious Organised Crime Unit, where I was appointed Unit Commander, and currently still serving there.”

During 2022, the NPVC and SANEB teams were disbanded; Colonel Steyn remained as project manager for undercover investigation into a drug syndicate at the provincial office while continuing as Provincial Coordinator for SANEB and KFR investigations.

“During 2022, both NPVC and SANEB teams were disbanded... I remained stationed at the provincial office, where I continued with being the project manager of undercover investigation into a drug syndicate... I continued to perform duties as the Provincial Coordinator for SANEB and KFR...”

Colonel Steyn has completed numerous specialised investigation courses including forensic investigation, criminal investigation, detective, organised crime, anti-kidnapping and extortion courses along with tertiary qualifications in policing, security management, project and strategic management.

“During the course of my career, I completed numerous specialised investigation... forensic investigation course, criminal investigation course, detective course, organised crime course, anti-kidnapping and extortion course... tertiary education... national diploma in policing... national higher diploma in policing... BTEC degree in policing... diploma in security management, private security management, certificate in project management and a year's certificate in strategic management.”

Currently Colonel Steyn serves as Unit Commander for Serious Organised Crime Investigations in West Rand and coordinates major investigations involving narcotics, cash-in-transit robberies, police killings, illicit gold and diamond dealing, infrastructure crimes, trafficking in persons and kidnapping for ransom.

“My current responsibilities, as I am serving as a Unit Commander for Serious Organised Crime Investigations in West Rand... I also oversee investigations involving narcotic-related offences, cash-in-transit robberies, police killings, illicit gold and diamond dealing, infrastructure-related crimes, trafficking in persons and kidnapping for ransom investigations... I am also continuing duties as Provincial Coordinator for SANEB and KFR investigations... I coordinate most major investigations dealt with by the aforesaid structure within the Gauteng province.”