KZN: Hawks seize R8 million’s worth of cocaine bricks headed for Free State
The Hawks in KwaZulu-Natal have seized 20 bricks of cocaine worth R8 million at an industrial park near Pietermaritzburg.
The KwaZulu-Natal Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) Provincial Head, Major General Lesetja Senona, has welcomed the seizure of 20 cocaine bricks that were destined for the Free State.
Hawks members from the Pietermaritzburg Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit seized the cocaine bricks worth R8 million at an industrial park near Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday.
20 BRICKS OF COCAINE HIDDEN INSIDE THE CHEMICAL SPRAYER BIN
The officers had received information about a truck that was carrying a chemical crop sprayer tractor from Durban Harbour heading to the Free State province.
“A disruptive operation was swiftly conducted, and members proceeded to the said industrial park.
“The said truck was traced and found stationary. A search was conducted and members found 20 bricks of cocaine hidden inside the chemical sprayer bin. A detailed statement was obtained from the driver and no arrest has been made at this stage. The investigation continues,” said the Hawks in a statement.
Major General Senona congratulated the officers for the good work done.
WHO ARE THE HAWKS?
The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), commonly known as the Hawks, is the branch of the South African Police Service which investigates organised crime, economic crime, corruption, and other serious crime referred to it by the president or another division of the police.
The unit was established in 2008 by President Jacob Zuma to replace the disbanded Scorpions.
IEC COMMISSIONER NOMSA MASUKU ARRESTED
Meanwhile, in other Hawks-related news on Friday, Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) commissioner Nomsa Masuku was arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation (SCCI) unit over fraud that was allegedly committed when she was worked for Standard Bank as the head of the corporate social investment (CSI) programme.
“It is reported that the ex-employee was the head of the CSI programme for the ‘Adopt A School Trust’, which was established to provide scholarships, bursaries and awards of study, researching or teaching to learners from schools adopted by Standard Bank’s ‘Adopt a School’ programme,” Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said.
However, the Hawks allege that she abused her position and gave bursaries to her relatives.
“The Hawks investigators established that the incumbent flouted the processes of the trust by awarding scholarships to friends and family members through manipulation of documents and without the approval of the committee,” Mogale said.