Drugs bust ship – investigations ongoing

Investigations into a major drug
haul at the Durban harbour last
week were ongoing as this issue
went to press, with police saying
they were sure to get to the
bottom of the matter.
Valued at about R230 million,
a total of 230kg of cocaine
was found stashed in rucksacks
in a cabin of one of the crew
members.
According to national police
spokesman, senior superintendent
Vish Naidoo, police received
information from their South
American counterparts on the
ship, which arrived in South
Africa last Wednesday.
“Organised crime investigators
from South America gave us
the information. On its arrival in
Durban harbour, the vessel
was arrested and a major
search began.”
According to Naidoo the
Liberian ship was from a South
American port and was only
on a stopover in South Africa.
“The search took two days and
was not easy as no-one on the
vessel speaks any English. We,
however, kept at it and found a
stash of drugs hidden in the cabin
of one of the crew members,
who has been arrested. Further
searching revealed more drugs.”
He said it was unknown where
the cocaine blocks were from
and when they were placed on
board.
“The ship had stopped at
several ports and was still en
route to more. We have not yet
determined whom the intended
market was and how they
came to be on board. It has
been a difficult investigation
so far due to the language
barrier. We are in the process
of finding an interpreter to help
with the translation during the
interrogation of the crew.”
He said the crew member
arrested had been interrogated
with the help of the ship’s
captain as interpreter, but not
much could be gained from him.
“He is facing a charge of drug
dealing and it is serious. This
is a very large consignment
of drugs.”
According to Naidoo the
other crew members are not yet
in the clear. “Once we have the
interpreter we will interview
everyone on board again as part
of the ongoing investigation.”
When this issue went to press,
the South African Revenue
Service had not cleared the
ship to leave South Africa and
it remained arrested until
further notice.