Busted: Containers marked ‘bananas’ actually had 85kg cocaine
The 85kg cocaine seized is worth approximately R85 million.
What has a little less potassium, is powdery, and you can’t make it into a bread? If it’s not bananas, then it must be cocaine!
That was the case for a drug bust that took place in East London over the weekend.
Police seized 85kg of cocaine worth over R85 million from an Ecuadorian vessel bound for, you guessed it, Cape Town.
The vessel had docked at the port of Ngqura in the Eastern Cape when authorities got the tip that two containers on board were suspected of containing drugs.
Police spokesperson Lt-Col Katlego Mogale said that the suspected containers, labelled ‘bananas,’ were removed but low and behold a hidden compartment was discovered.
This ship is bananas!
“Upon inspecting the rear refrigeration unit, a hidden compartment was discovered. Upon removing some of the panelling, the team discovered packages wrapped in brown tape,” Mogale said.
Authorities uncovered 40 packages from behind the panelling, which tested positive for cocaine. They then seized two other containers linked to the same product type and packaging methodology.
“All roleplayers jointly then removed the panelling and discovered a further 45 bricks wrapped in brown packaging tape, which tested positive for cocaine with an estimated weight of 45kg in both containers,” said Mogale.
“A total of 85 bricks with an approximate weight of 85kg and an estimated street value of R85m were seized.”
The intelligence-driven operation team included customs investigations, the K9 unit and border police, Mogale said.
It may have been a bad day for drug dealers, but it certainly was a win for law enforcement seizing 85kg cocaine.
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