A 37-year-old man has been arrested after heroin worth an estimated R4 million was seized in his lush Ballito residence, just outside Durban.
The drug haul was seized on Friday during an intelligence-driven operation led by the Hawks’ Narcotics Enforcement Bureau (SANEB) together with Crime Intelligence, Durban Metro Police Drug Task Team and Shongweni K9.
The arrest came after the Hawks received a tip-off about drugs from overseas that were allegedly being kept and distributed out from an unoccupied upmarket townhouse in Zimbali. The suspect was renting another townhouse not far away from the alleged stash house whilst using the other apartment as a storage facility.
Using the description provided, the suspect was spotted entering the rented premises. Already armed with a search warrant, the suspect was confronted and he allegedly put up a fight but he was contained.
During the search of the house, the team managed to seize 16 kilograms of heroin powder, cash, other paraphernalia and machinery totalling at least R4 million. The team proceeded to his other house in Umhlanga and another in Mount Edgecombe which emerged after the suspect’s arrest. Both yielded no positive results.
He is due to appear in the Umhlali Magistrates’ Court on Monday for dealing and possession of drugs.