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10 suspects arrested for the R583m cocaine haul off the coast of Saldanha have appeared in the Vredenburg Magistrate s Court on a charge of drug dealing.
According to the NPA, more charges are likely to be added.
The case was postponed to 12 March for the State to secure interpreters.
The 10 suspects arrested for the R583 million cocaine haul along the West Coast earlier this week, appeared in the Vredenburg Magistrate s Court on Thursday.
The suspects, four of Bulgarian descent and six from Myanmar, were in the dock on charges of drug dealing with an alternative charge of illegal drug possession after police, in an elaborate operation on Monday, found 973 blocks of compressed cocaine on a shipping vessel off the coast of Saldanha.
Saldahna cocaine bust: Suspects in court after massive seizure
Suspects from Bulgaria and Myanmar appeared at the Vredenburg Magistrates Court after police seized over R500 million worth of cocaine.
Ten Bulgarian and Myanmarese nationals who were arrested earlier this week following a dramatic late night operation in which a fishing boat carrying over R500 million worth of cocaine was raided appeared in court on Thursday and were formally charged with dealing in drugs, and possession of drugs as an alternative charge.
The case was postponed until 12 March after the defence raised concerns about the ability of the court to afford the men a fair trial without registered translators present, as they don’t speak English.
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