Aeroton case

There has been interference in investigations by senior officials, similar to other cases where police involvement in matters is handled in problematic ways, exemplified by the Aeroton case.

“it is a serious allegation to make that there was interference in the investigation by senior officials and you probably have seen with other witnesses that we do probe the role of police officers in matters not being taken, being handled in certain ways, which is such a case with Aeroton”

Lt-Col Sebola states some senior or general officers may be fixing investigations rather than assisting them, particularly regarding the Aeroton drug bust.

“some of our seniors or our Generals... we cannot even understand whether they are assisting or they are fixing, going back to Aeroton... there is a lot of interference”

In the Aeroton drug bust, senior officers may be frustrating a successful prosecution rather than assisting it.

“the role of senior officers... you form the view... whether they are assisting you or seeking to frustrate a successful investigation of that matter? That is what I am saying”

The 1000 kg drug bust investigated was the backbone of the Aeroton case and involved weeks of work starting with interception of shipments containing various commodities changing over time (sugar, dog food, bone food, truck parts) linked to a syndicate controlling a road in Sao Paulo used for transport.

“This is what I think the Commission has seen as the Aeroton case... We began stopping sugar, dog food, bone food, then car parts... The syndicate owns that road. So they needed to find something in large amounts...”

The rip-on-rip-off method of drug trafficking, where narcotics are concealed inside legitimate cargo consignments and containers are tampered with en route, requires infiltration by corrupt law enforcement to succeed.

“narcotics are frequently concealed in so-called legitimate cargo consignments . This concealment takes place in the country of origin where those containers are packed . ... because of the issue that these containers move a lot at sea , there is a space left between the door of the container and the body parts itself ... The Aeroton case , for example , it was a container containing body parts for Scania trucks ... this drug consignment is then placed in that cavity . Duplicate seals are then manufactured and the container is sealed again ... this container is then placed on a vessel ... Then , as was indicated , this drug syndicates then have to employ some or other person within law enforcement ... so that they can try and stop this container from going its normal route to allow them to do the other rip-off ...”

The Aeroton case involved a drug consignment concealed inside a container carrying body parts for Scania trucks, exploiting the space left due to container movements at sea.

“The Aeroton case , for example , it was a container containing body parts for Scania trucks . ... this drug consignment is then placed in that cavity . ... The Aeroton case , which took place on 9 July 2021 .”