Overview
- Customs and SANEB/Hawks officers discovered about 90 kilograms of suspected cocaine concealed inside panels leading to engine compartments of two imported excavators.
- Inspectors recovered 47 blocks in one machine and 43 in the other from equipment offloaded at the Q and R Car Terminal that arrived on the vessel Neptune Ace Tokyo from Santos, Brazil.
- Preliminary on-site testing using a SARS mobile kit indicated cocaine but samples have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory for chemical confirmation.
- No arrests have been made and the Hawks-led criminal investigation is ongoing with the seized exhibits secured and handed over for forensic processing.
- Officials say the seizure highlights SARS’ use of risk profiling, non-intrusive inspection and detector-dog units to target high-risk cargo at one of Africa’s busiest ports, a tactic aimed at protecting legitimate trade.