Southern Cape coastline ‘haven for drug smugglers’

ONE of the country’s leading maritime security experts believes it is “open season” for drug smugglers operating along the southern Cape coastline.

This comes after about R100million worth of what police believe is pure or uncut cocaine washed up in drums on the region’s beaches between Christmas and New Year.

Former army seaborne special forces operative Herman van Niekerk, whose company Maritime Risk Solutions provides security to cargo vessels in the pirate-infested waters off east Africa, cited Knysna’s small harbour as being a problem area as it was largely unmanned.

This despite the fact that in December 2010 six men were caught in possession of 1 716kg of cocaine, worth an estimated R2-billion, on a vessel in Knysna harbour. But Van Niekerk said the bust, which resulted in jail terms for three men, including a 15-year sentence for Port Elizabethan Shaun Packareysammy, was the exception to the rule.

“There are drugs going up and down the coastline all the time, and people from all over the world are docking their yachts in Knysna,” he said. “There are no immigration checks taking place and the authorities don’t have an effective water capability. I think you could offload a pink elephant and you would probably get away with it.”

The Knysna harbour is administered by South African National Parks (SANParks), which says it is aware of the problem and is taking measures to thwart smugglers’ operations.

“We are working closely with SAPS, Knysna Municipality and other security agencies in the area. Our rangers work longer hours, even in the evenings, to ensure there’s adequate security in the Knysna protected area, which is now part of the Garden Route National Park,” SANParks spokeswoman Nandi Mgwadlamba said.

Van Niekerk said smugglers were also taking advantage of Knysna’s reputation as a tranquil town. “There has been an increase in people from north of South Africa’s borders living in Knysna and the surrounds. It is easy for them to load drugs from boats onto vehicles which then distribute them to the rest of the country.

“The drugs, which could originate from South America, are being carried on the large cargo vessels. As they near Knysna, a ski-boat is launched from the vessel and makes the drop-off in Knysna. It is as simple as that.”

Southern Cape police spokesman Captain Malcolm Pojie said police had stepped up their efforts since the discovery of the cocaine bins.

“We obviously do not want to give away details as we want to catch these criminals in the act, but we do have many plans in place, including air support.”