R250m cocaine bust
2001-07-20 21:09
Cape Town - Cape Town police seized cocaine weighing 116kg with a value
estimated at R250 million from a Malta-registered cargo ship in
Saldanha Bay on Friday.
Police Assistant Commissioner Joseph Ngobeni said the ship had been
bound for China from Argentina and 10 packets of the drug were
discovered while the crew were cleaning the ship's intake filters.
The owners and the captain diverted the ship to South African
authorities in Saldanha Bay.
The ship was heading for Qingbao in China, Ngobeni said.
Further investigation by police on Friday led to the discovery of
another 43 packages of cocaine.
No arrests have been made.
- SAPA