Bricks of cocaine concealed inside heavy-duty excavators at the Port of Durban, intercepted by SARS officials during a recent customs operation.
SARS has successfully intercepted a large consignment of cocaine concealed within heavy-duty excavation equipment at the Port of Durban, highlighting ongoing efforts to combat drug smuggling.
The seizure was made during a targeted Customs and Excise operation conducted in the early hours of Saturday as part of an intensified crackdown on illicit trade and cross-border smuggling.
According to SARS, customs officials identified the shipment for inspection after conducting risk assessments and cargo profiling on excavation machinery imported from South America.
During the operation, SARS detector dogs alerted officials to suspicious parcels hidden within two excavators. The South African Police Service (SAPS) subsequently secured the scene while authorities removed approximately 90 large bricks of a substance believed to be pure cocaine.
