Hawks Building Breached Seven Times Before R200m Cocaine Theft

Key facts

• A KwaZulu-Natal Hawks building was broken into seven times over a decade before a R200 million cocaine consignment was stolen.
• The theft of the R200 million cocaine consignment occurred in November 2021.
• Major General Hendrik Flynn, head of Serious Organised Crime Investigation, testified at the Madlanga Commission.
• The Port Shepstone Hawks building lacked private security due to an expired contract and had no working alarm system.
• No CCTV cameras were installed in or around the Port Shepstone premises, nor were there early warning or exterior beam sensors.
• KZN Hawks head Leseja Senona requested a postponement of his testimony, citing the need for more information and procedural concerns.
• Flynn suggested the 2021 cocaine theft was an inside job.
• The 541kg cocaine consignment was seized in June 2021 and stored at the Hawks facility for nearly five months.

Decade of Vulnerability Preceded Major Cocaine Heist

Criminals targeted a KwaZulu-Natal Hawks building seven times over a ten-year period before a R200 million cocaine consignment vanished from its unprotected premises in 2021. These repeated security lapses, which left police acutely aware of the facility's vulnerabilities, have come to light during ongoing proceedings at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry. The commission is investigating suspected police involvement in the theft of the substantial drug haul, which has links to transnational trafficking networks. The revelations underscore a critical failure in safeguarding evidence and highlight potential systemic weaknesses within the criminal justice system. The inquiry is examining accusations that drug cartels may have infiltrated various levels of law enforcement, politics, and private security. These details emerged as Major General Hendrik Flynn, who heads the Serious Organised Crime Investigation component of the Hawks, continued his testimony before the commission. Flynn's evidence paints a stark picture of neglect at the Port Shepstone building, where the R200 million cocaine consignment was ultimately stolen.

Flynn Details Security Deficiencies at Port Shepstone Facility

Major General Hendrik Flynn presented evidence detailing the alarming lack of security at the Hawks building in Port Shepstone, KwaZulu-Natal. He testified that the premises had no private security personnel due to an expired contract and, crucially, possessed no functioning alarm system. This void in basic security measures created an environment ripe for exploitation. Further compounding the security failures, Flynn revealed that a previous site inspection had found no CCTV cameras installed in or around the premises. The building also lacked an early warning system and any exterior beam sensors, leaving it exposed to unauthorised entry and undetected breaches. Flynn read from a previously confidential police report that documented a total of eight break-ins at the Port Shepstone building over approximately a decade. While the perpetrators and precise details of each prior incident remain unclear, the repeated intrusions served as a clear warning of the facility's inherent insecurity.

The R200 Million Cocaine Theft and Its Aftermath

The R200 million cocaine consignment, weighing 541kg, was initially intercepted in June 2021 at an Isipingo depot. However, it was subsequently stolen from the Hawks building in Port Shepstone in November of the same year, nearly five months after its seizure. This extended period of storage at an unsecured facility, Flynn argued, severely compromised the integrity of the investigation and the ability to apprehend the traffickers. Flynn expressed his strong opinion that the cocaine should never have been stored at the Port Shepstone Hawks facility for such an extended duration. He stated that the failure in crime scene management directly led to the subsequent theft, significantly hindering efforts to dismantle the drug trafficking operation. The theft is believed by Flynn to have been an inside job, suggesting a level of complicity or knowledge from within the police ranks that facilitated the burglary.

KZN Hawks Head Senona's Testimony Postponed

The testimony of Leseja Senona, the embattled head of the KwaZulu-Natal Hawks, before the Madlanga Commission has been postponed. Senona was scheduled to give his account on Friday, May 8, but requested more time to gather necessary information. His legal team also raised concerns regarding procedural irregularities during the commission's proceedings. Senona has been implicated by Major General Hendrik Flynn in the events leading up to the theft of the cocaine consignment. Flynn's testimony suggested that Senona allegedly breached protocol concerning the proper storage of the seized drugs. The postponement means that Senona's account, which is expected to shed further light on the alleged mishandling of the cocaine and potential internal involvement, will now be heard at a later date, with reports indicating a potential rescheduling for June.

Commission Probes Wider Criminal Justice System Infiltration

The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry is not solely focused on the Port Shepstone incident but is delving into broader allegations of a drug cartel's infiltration of South Africa's criminal justice system, political structures, and private security firms. The repeated security breaches at the Hawks building and the subsequent theft of a high-value drug consignment are seen as symptomatic of these deeper systemic issues. Flynn's testimony, by detailing the extent of the security failures and the prolonged storage of the cocaine, provides crucial evidence for the commission's mandate. The inquiry aims to understand how such a significant loss of confiscated evidence could occur and whether it points to deliberate sabotage or systemic negligence. The commission's work is critical in assessing the public's trust in law enforcement and the efficacy of measures designed to combat organised crime and corruption.

The bottom line

• A decade of repeated break-ins at a Hawks building preceded the November 2021 theft of R200 million in cocaine.
• The Port Shepstone facility suffered from a severe lack of basic security, including no private guards, no working alarms, and no CCTV.
• Major General Hendrik Flynn testified that the prolonged storage of the seized cocaine at the unsecured facility compromised the investigation.
• KZN Hawks head Leseja Senona's testimony, crucial to understanding protocol breaches, has been postponed.
• The Madlanga Commission is investigating potential drug cartel infiltration across the criminal justice system, politics, and private security.
• Flynn believes the 2021 cocaine theft was an inside job, suggesting internal complicity.