THE police have destroyed R800 million worth of drugs linked to a number of high-profile cases on Thursday, 26 October.
National commissioner General Fannie Masemola presided over the process where drugs worth R800 million, which were seized during various operations around Mzansi, were destroyed.
The five tons of drugs included heroin, cocaine and Mandrax.
Masemola said their national safer festive season operations had started on a high note as police continue to dismantle and disrupt the work of organised syndicates from every corner of South Africa.
“These safer festive operations are being rolled out throughout the country and are running concurrently with Operation Shanela, which aims to ensure heightened police visibility throughout the busy festive season period,” said Masemola.
According to Masemola, this was their third drug destruction process in this financial year. He said the most recent one was in Cape Town in September where 1,7 tons of drugs to the value of R170 million were destroyed.
He that said in the 2022/2023 financial year, 20,8 tons of drugs with a street value of R2 billion were also destroyed.
"This drug bust happened in August 2022 when Ebrahim Kara, Elias Radebe and Meshack Ngobese were arrested in Cape Town after a truck transporting more than 600 blocks of cocaine was stopped by police. The drugs were discovered hidden in false wooden boards.
"This matter was finalised and Kara was handed down an eight-year sentence while Radebe and Ngobese were handed down one year and six years imprisonment sentences respectively,” he said.
Masemola said the drugs, which were exhibit materials, were destroyed following the conclusion of a court order which confirmed the finalisation of the cases.
"It's also worth noting that all drug exhibit materials that have been destructed are audited and a secondary audit is also conducted prior to today’s actual destruction by our quality management office to ensure compliance to the set standard,” he said.
