KZN police have fruitful weekend with drug bust, big car parts haul

POLICE in Durban arrested a man in connection with drugs worth R1.5 million, and intercepted an export container full of car parts worth about R10m in two separate incidents at the weekend, KwaZulu-Natal police said.

A joint festive season operation was conducted by various units in the Durban North area at about 9pm on Friday night, which yielded positive results, said SAPS Lt-Col Thulani Zwane.

The police officers followed-up on information given to them about a suspected drug laboratory being operated from a flat in uMhlanga Rocks, Durban.

On their arrival, a 53-year-old man was approached and arrested. He was taken back to his premises and they were searched.

The police officers found Mandrax and heroin with a street value of R1.5m.

The premises were believed to be used for packaging and storing drugs. The arrested man was charged for possession and dealing in drugs. He was expected to appear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court today, Zwane said.

In the second incident, a breakthrough was made at a Durban Harbour where a container was found full of stripped car parts intended for export to Mauritius.

“The breakthrough was made by the border policing’s trans-international crime investigation unit as part of festive season operations.

“The container was fronted as second-hand parts for export, but on a full unpacking of the container three of the engines and car panels for Audi and Ford Rangers were found to have been linked to two vehicles that had been hijacked.”

The container also had a variety of luxury car panels and engines for Mercedes-Benz, Audi, BMW, Ford Ranger, and Hyundai Tucson vehicles, which were currently licensed, insured, and bank-financed.

“The estimated value of these cars is R10 million and they are still to be investigated as to why they were stripped and not reported stolen while under bank finance.

“The investigation

Zwane said. | continues,”