Police in KwaZulu-Natal are searching for suspects after cocaine worth approximately R13 million was recovered during an intelligence-driven operation at the Durban Harbour on Tuesday, 5 May 2026.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), the operation followed information gathered after drugs were recovered in Gauteng earlier this year, indicating that the shipment had entered the country through the Durban Harbour. Intelligence teams then profiled certain vessels linked to the suspected smuggling operation.
During the operation, officers from Durban Operational Response Services (ORS) and the Serious Organised Crime Investigation (SOCI) unit recovered 32 blocks suspected to be cocaine concealed inside the air conditioning compartment of a bus. The buses had reportedly been shipped from a South American country and were destined for Gauteng Province. Investigations are continuing to identify those behind the shipment and the intended recipients.