A 46-year-old man was arrested after a joint operation among Kuils River police, Law Enforcement and a private security company uncovered a large quantity of suspected cocaine at a residence in Highbury, Kuils River on Saturday 23 May.

The operation

The bust took place around 20:00, following a briefing involving all parties, whose focus was on community safety and removing illegal firearms and narcotics from the streets. Officers proceeded to a house that had been identified as a possible drug-distribution point.

Police officers entered the property, followed by security officers from Titanium Securitas, and conducted a thorough search. A shoebox that looked suspiciously out of place caught the attention of the team.

What was found

On closer inspection multiple small bags containing a white powder, suspected to be cocaine, were discovered inside the box. After examination under sufficient light, the substance was confirmed to have the same consistency and appearance as cocaine.

In total, 58 bags, each containing 50 small sachets, were seized, along with one uncut block of the substance. The bags weighed approximately 1 kg combined, while the uncut block weighed just less than 96g. The drugs were estimated to have a street value of approximately R860 000.

Arrest and court appearance

The suspect was immediately arrested and taken to Kuils River Police Station for further processing. The man appeared in court on Monday 25 May, but the matter was provisionally withdrawn awaiting laboratory results.

Forensic results pending

Kuils River police confirmed the seized substances had been forwarded to the forensic laboratory for testing. A formal drug report is still outstanding, and results are expected within a couple of weeks before it can be confirmed that the substance is indeed cocaine.

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