Yesterday in the late afternoon, members of the Hawks, together with South African Police Service (SAPS) Crime Intelligence and Customs officials from the South African Revenue Services, seized 1.1 tons of narcotics, identified as Hashish, with a street value of R36 million in Tulisa Park, Johannesburg.
The success of this seizure was attributed to information received from a member of the public and weeks of investigations which identified the storage facility where the narcotics was being stored. The storage facility in southern Johannesburg was part of a freight service that stores consignments and then also dispatches the freight to various parts of the country and overseas.
The narcotics was also packaged in fraudulently labeled packs , such as a popular brand of pet food , tobacco and coffee packages .We believe this consignment of drugs was destined for the International market. Our Forensic Services on the scene conducted initial tests of the narcotics, which indicated that it was Hashish.
Together with the narcotics, Police also found a large tortoise which was identified by the NSPCA Wildlife Unit as a leopard tortoise, approximately 50 years old and female. The tortoise didn’t have any food or water and was being kept together with the narcotics consignment. We believe that the tortoise could have been destined for the International markets as well, especially the Asian countries. Members on the scene named the tortoise ‘ Nonhlanhla’ (which means lucky girl) and handed her over to the NSPCA’s Wildlife Unit.
No arrests have been made thus far, but members of the Hawks are still following up information.
Any further information relating to the well-being of the tortoise can be directed to NSPCA’s Wildlife Unit, National Inspector:
Wendy Willson
Cell 082 850 4383.
Captain Dennis Adriao
Tel: 012 400 6584
Cell: 082 828 5773
E-mail: adriaod@saps.org.za
Hawks seize 1.1 tons of narcotics worth R36 million
