Approximately 90 kilograms of suspected cocaine with an estimated street value of R36 million was seized at the Durban Harbour on June 6, 2026.
The multi-agency operation was led by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), specifically through the South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau (SANEB) attached to the Serious Organised Crime Investigation (SOCI) unit. The operation was conducted in collaboration with Customs officials, the Durban Visible Policing Operations (VPO), and the Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC).
The bust began when Customs officials alerted SANEB members to an excavator that had arrived at the Q and R Car Terminal aboard the vessel *Neptune Ace Tokyo*, which departed from Santos, Brazil.
Following the handover of the scene by Customs, a thorough inspection of the heavy machinery revealed suspicious packages hidden within a panel leading to the engine compartment. This search yielded 47 blocks containing a powdered substance suspected to be cocaine.
While the first scene was being processed, Customs officials identified a second concealment in another excavator that had already been offloaded from the vessel. A subsequent inspection of the second machine resulted in the seizure of an additional 43 blocks of the suspected narcotics.
The combined seizures total approximately 90 kilograms. Based on an estimated street value of R400,000 per kilogram, the total haul is valued at R36 million.
The seized exhibits will be transported to the Forensic Science Laboratory for chemical analysis. No arrests have been made at this stage, and the matter remains under active investigation.
