Madlanga commission hears businessman was tracked alongside 715kg cocaine shipment from Durban to Joburg

Hawks Lieutenant Colonel Nkoana Sebola Photo: Supplied

The 751kg of drugs confiscated in a controversial Johannesburg drug bust was facilitated by businessman Tumelo Nku, who was working with SAPS officials at the behest of cartels, Hawks Lieutenant Colonel Nkoana Sebola has told the Madlanga Commission.

“Mr Nku’s cellphone, through the cellphone towers, was tracked through the N3,” Sebola said. “It also shows that Mr Nku was from Durban, either following the truck … he was on the same route as the drugs.

Nku was implicated in the cocaine seizure at a Scania warehouse in Aeroton, Johannesburg, in July 2021. He faces allegations of colluding with corrupt police officers in an alleged heist attempt to steal the drugs.

Nku provided the initial tip-off about the illicit drug consignment to his handler, Hawks General Samuel Mashaba, the then-head of Gauteng traffic police. The pair allegedly orchestrated a false police drug bust in Aeroton, which was later interrupted by the Hawks.