By Johnathan Paoli
KwaZulu-Natal Directorate of Priority Crime Investigations (Hawks) investigator Warrant Officer Karl Sander told the Madlanga Commission that a single suspicious customs seal ultimately exposed what became one of South Africa’s largest cocaine seizures.
Sander said the discovery followed weeks of surveillance and the inspection of hundreds of shipping containers linked to an international drug trafficking syndicate.
Continuing his testimony on Monday, Sander detailed his role in what is known as the Aeroton case, which led to the seizure of about 750kg of cocaine, valued at roughly R300 million, concealed in a shipment of truck parts from Brazil.
“This was weeks of work. This is what I think the Commission has seen as the Aeroton case. This is the backbone of the Aeroton case,” Sander said.
He said investigators had been acting on intelligence that cocaine was being smuggled into South Africa via commercial cargo shipments from South
You’ve reached your free article limit
Subscribe to enjoy unlimited access to trusted journalism. Cancel anytime.
Subscribe nowNeed help? molokom@insidepolitic.co.za
