- Location: Port of Durban (specifically at the Q and R Car Terminal), hidden inside two excavators shipped from Santos, Brazil, aboard the vessel Neptune Ace Tokyo.
- Discovery: Made on Saturday, 6 June 2026, during a joint intelligence-led operation by the Hawks (Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation / DPCI, including the South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau – SANEB), SARS Customs, and other agencies. A customs official and sniffer dogs flagged the shipment.
- Hiding Method: The drugs were concealed in panels leading to the engine compartments of the heavy machinery. One excavator had 47 blocks; the second had 43.
- Status: No arrests have been made so far. The case has been handed over to the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit for further probe. The substance is being sent for laboratory analysis.
This is part of ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking through South African ports, which have seen several similar busts recently (e.g., another cocaine seizure in May). Durban Harbour has been a notable entry point for cocaine from South America.
The story has been widely reported by outlets like IOL, News24, EWN, SABC, and others, and is circulating on social media.
It’s a solid win for law enforcement, but as some commentators note, it also highlights the scale of smuggling attempts that ports face. Investigations are continuing.
