Man appears in court for R400m Centurion boat drug bust Updated
Nokukhanya N Mntambo
Share this:
A 39-year-old man appeared at the Pretoria Magistrate s Court on Friday on charges of dealing with drugs after this week s bust.
Supplied
Neil van Zyl was arrested on the N1 in Centurion on Wednesday and found in possession of R400 million worth of compressed cocaine after a bakkie was pulled over on the N1 north between Botha Avenue and the R21 off-ramp.
It s understood police reacted to a tip-off about the contents of the load in the boat towed by the bakkie.
The bust was part of a joint operation by the South African Narcotic Enforcement Bureau (SANEB Head Office), Pretoria Serious Organised Crime, Tactical Operations Management Section of the Hawks with the assistance of Crime Intelligence Head Office.
2 June 2021, 8:00 PM | Prabashini Moodley | @SABCNews
File photo: Police intercepted the vehicle on the N1 in Centurion, confiscated the drugs and arrested the suspect
Cocaine with an estimated street value of R400-million has been seized along the N1 highway in Centurion, Gauteng. According to police spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale, a 39-year-old man stored the drugs in a boat, towed by his vehicle.
“Following an intelligence-driven operation, by the members of Hawks, crime intelligence head office, where information was followed and the vehicle was taken off the road on the N1 between Botha Avenue and the R21 off-ramp. It was an 18-foot boat that was being hauled by a Toyota bakkie that the suspect was driving. The drugs suspected to be cocaine with an estimated street value of R400-million.”
Warriors for justice - AfriForumâs Private Prosecution Unit takes up the fight for victimsâ families
By Shaun Smillie
Share
Johannesburg - Somehow the two men found the house that lay tucked behind high walls just off Botha Avenue in Centurion.
Like so many other walk-ins, they had come that morning out of frustration and they had travelled far.
To get there had taken a 900km journey, by overnight bus from Mtontsasa in the Eastern Cape to Johannesburg. Then a taxi ride to Centurion. Finally, at the gate, they were able to talk the security guard into letting them in.