Cops 'following up on strong leads' in massive Durban drug bust

Cocaine with an estimated street value of 72-MILLION-rand was seized at the harbour yesterday. 

National Police Commissioner, Fannie Masemola says they're yet to make arrests in the case.  

A two-month-long SAPS intelligence-driven operation culminated in the multi-million rand drug bust.

Members of the Hawks, Vispol and police seized a container that docked on a ship coming into the country from Brazil. 

The container was moved to a warehouse in the south of Durban, where five, 10 and 20-litre containers of white paint were found. Inside them, forensic teams found over 200 plastic-wrapped blocks of cocaine floating in the paint. 

Members of the media were allowed into the warehouse for a brief moment and saw the national commissioner, Police Minister Bheki Cele and KZN Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi being taken through the scene. 

Masemola said for the past month, their officers who are based at the Durban harbour have been monitoring and keeping surveillance for a vessel that was making its way to South Africa from Brazil. 

Masemola says they believe the shipment was headed for Gauteng.

ALSO READ