What Madlanga FOUND About Hawks Cover-Up Will Anger You

Ajouté : 2026-05-16

[00:00:00]Madlanga was left in disbelief as a Hawks colonel spilled the beans on how corrupt police are helping drug syndicates smuggle cocaine into South Africa. This man sat in that commission and told them straight that without dirty cops on the inside, none of these drugs get through. And the crime scenes he described will make your jaw drop.

[00:00:19]Stay with me. at the the back of the container when these bags fell out and as I said earlier you cannot by looking at a bag said this bag contains the narcotics >> let's have a look at those bags how many bags were there that fell out >> you I must I must lie to you but it's 20 odd bags >> okay so this is uh this is a photograph uh at page four of the exhibit bundle Uh, are these the bags that fell off the container?

[00:00:57]>> That is that is indeed correct. Uh, I didn't see the bags fell off the container. These bags were on this black bucky when I arrived at the scene, but these were the bags that I was told uh fell out of the the container.

[00:01:12]>> Do you know the source of this photograph? Uh the source of this photograph um when I was uh informed that I'm going to be in front of the commission, I asked around some of my old team members uh if anyone stop robot, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? ROVER, WILL YOU STOP THAT ROBOT? YOU silly jock.

[00:01:34]>> Sorry. Where were we?

[00:01:36]>> You crazy jock.

[00:01:38]>> Red Bull gives you wings.

[00:01:44]Can you tell us what we are looking at here?

[00:01:47]>> What you're looking at here is the the content of those black bags that uh would typically be what was later established to be be a brick of cocaine.

[00:01:59]>> So what it looks like, if you can just confirm for me, is that because this looks like a canvas bag with a zip. Is that is that inside the plastic rubbish bags? Basically, >> that would be that would be correct.

[00:02:17]commissioners. Uh I think what they why they do this. I also asked the question why they do this is remember there's a lot of uh uh moisture uh when these uh bags are at sea and it's sort of to protect that canvas bag with the with the wrapping. In the in the right hand corner from my side one can clearly see the the black tape that was used to to cover those bags.

[00:02:46]So, inside the black canvas bag is this brick that's also wrapped in plastic.

[00:02:52]>> That's correct. Yes.

[00:02:54]>> And that brick is has got a picture on it.

[00:02:57]>> Yes.

[00:02:58]>> And and what is that?

[00:03:00]>> Uh I think there's a picture of uh the two types of uh uh uh brick pictures that that we got. That is a a red bull. I think the other photograph if you would uh is is maybe the I think the next photograph >> shows the the next so page six is just another example of the bricks.

[00:03:25]>> Yes.

[00:03:26]>> And this is a particular insignia.

[00:03:29]>> A particular insignia. It's a that is a red bull.

[00:03:33]>> And what is the significance of this picture? The significance of this we picked up is that excuse me the end users uh being the drug syndicate specific syndicates have specific insignia that they request is put on to to their product that is uh exported exported into our country for them. Uh the other uh photograph on one of the other photographs you will see there's a black seagull on a white background.

[00:04:06]>> I just >> so it's for specific it's for specific parts of the syndicate.

[00:04:11]>> Right. Have you seen this particular insignia before the red bull?

[00:04:17]>> Variations on the bull but not the specific one.

[00:04:22]What type of variations >> you would get a it's also a red bull but it's more like uh you know a refined picture of of only head of a red bull or uh the a red bull standing in the air or you know more than that one uh or or a more defined picture of of a red bull and the like. So it's not a it it can mean that it was for for for different uh uh uh sections within the syndicate or even a different syndicate >> that comes in on the same consignment.

[00:04:57]>> So thank you. The next picture Okay. So that's just another picture of I I'm assuming that these are the bricks that came out of that bag.

[00:05:11]>> Correct. Yes.

[00:05:14]Um, so that would be 11 bricks.

[00:05:18]>> Oh, no. Cuz they're stacked.

[00:05:20]>> Near hotel.

[00:05:21]>> There's more than 11 cuz they're stacked.

[00:05:22]>> It looks like 31.

[00:05:24]>> Okay.

[00:05:24]>> Cuz they they look like three three stacks high and two.

[00:05:29]>> Yeah. Looks like 31.

[00:05:30]>> 31 bricks.

[00:05:31]>> Yes.

[00:05:32]>> Um, so so the canvas carry bag carries about 30 31 bricks each. That seems to be uh at that stage. Yes.

[00:05:42]>> Okay. Uh all right. So the next photograph on page eight, >> right? This is what you were referring to earlier. Can you tell us what we're looking at? What we're looking at is again some of the Red Bull bricks as well as a as a brick with insignia of a black seagull. Looks like a seagull uh on a white background.

[00:06:16]>> Have you seen this insignia before?

[00:06:18]>> No, I haven't seen this specific insignia before. No.

[00:06:21]>> Okay. Uh, and then if we turn to page nine, what are we looking at here?

[00:06:31]>> What we're looking at here is all the uh the the bags now unpacked. We counted the bricks and then the bricks were then sealed in official exhibit bags. And it is those exhibit bags containing the bricks that you're seeing in that picture.

[00:06:52]Okay. So those are now the all the bricks in the exhibit bags and this is atritan still right that um location where this was picture was taken where exactly is that >> at the scia premises in initan that's correct commissioners >> thank you at which point did you determine that this was cocaine because you have done no analysis and no testing all you are seeing is bricks in these bags >> uh we did not at that stage determine it was cocaine per se. But out of previous experience, Commissioner, we we believed that this was bricks of cocaine weighing more or less a kilogram. And I put in my statement, although uh it would be determined by a forensics analysis, but out of experience, there's nothing else that they pack in in in in this in this form.

[00:07:47]>> So the eye test told you that this must be okay.

[00:07:51]>> Yeah. It's not like I I remember when other witnesses you asked if you do the the t test that only happens in movies.

[00:08:01]Okay. So, uh we're going to come back to the crime scene and how this was handled, but for now I just want to follow your your statement. Uh these are the bricks we know now. These are the bags that fell out of the container.

[00:08:16]Let's just go back in time now. So they arrive, they open the container, the bags fall out uh of the container. Um can you just go to 46.6?

[00:08:34]>> Yeah.

[00:08:36]Uh two officers were then joined by another officer, Pakula.

[00:08:41]>> Okay. Um and you met officer Pakula when you arrived on the scene later. uh warrant officer Pakula was pointed out to me by uh then captain Sibola. Now Lieutenant Colonel Siba was the uh investigating officer and at that stage crime scene manager as one of the people that uh he he was uh intending to arrest.

[00:09:06]>> Okay. So um did he arrive do you recall at what point he arrived?

[00:09:14]>> He was already there when I arrived at the scene. So I'm not sure when >> much later. Yes. Okay. So at this point we've already established what should have happened at earlier points along this train chain train of events.

[00:09:31]Now you open a container and these bags fall out. There's good reason to suspect it's drugs.

[00:09:37]>> Absolutely.

[00:09:38]>> What should have happened at that point >> in terms of crime scene protocol?

[00:09:42]Actually, commissioners before that point and I think uh uh General Flynn also testified to that what should have happened is that the seals and the sealed containers should have been photographed first and foremost. Then when it's opened and these things fall out, everyone move back and let's photograph what happened here now. And each step of the way should have been photographed.

[00:10:08]So the commissioners have been taken through a little bit through the crime scene protocols and national instructions last week. But from my understanding and please confirm uh or correct me that that is important. The first thing one does on the this comes from the protocol on seizure of illicit drugs. Um the first thing you do is you secure the scene.

[00:10:34]>> Absolutely.

[00:10:35]>> Was it secured here? No, it wasn't.

[00:10:38]>> Um, okay. Let's just go back to 46.7 as we deal with this crime scene. Can you read paragraph 46.7 into the record?

[00:10:50]>> During the time the officers were busy with this. Sorry, >> before you do that, sorry, I should have asked this question before you started.

[00:10:59]the what is the purpose of photographing the container while it's still sealed? Can can you just explain why you do that?

[00:11:11]>> Very plain and simple to to show that if there's going to be a court case to show that that seal is still intact. And in this erritant case, the vessel left from the port of Santos in Brazil where uh uh the Scania manufacturing plant is in Brazil. So it was transported from this plant to the port of Santos and from the port of Santos it came to to South Africa being Durban in Kaden.

[00:11:44]Then uh as was indicated um this uh drug syndicates then have to uh employ some other person within law enforcement, be that uh the police, be that uh customs SARS or or the like, so that they can try and and and um stop this container from going its normal route to allow them to do the ripoff.

[00:12:18]off where another set of seals is then again used uh to seal the container again as soon as they rip off this uh this consignment of drugs and then the container goes on its on its merry way to to the end user of the the legitimate cargo within the container.

[00:12:41]Could you provide an example of how uh example of how that would happen at uh at the level of customs and SARS enforcement? I mean, how is it that customs officials uh would be able to take control um undetected?

[00:13:04]Um if you're able to just provide an example for us to understand >> commissioners uh what happens is that when when this containers land in in our ports and a customs or police officer uh has information or believe that there's something illicit in this container.

[00:13:24]They put a hold or stop on this container. This container is then moved to a bondard where uh a subsequent inspection takes place of the content of this container.

[00:13:37]Documentation is then completed. Uh say for example they find nothing. The documentation is completed and it's sealed with police uh uh seals again documentation with the new seal numbers also added then to the shipping manifest and then it goes away. In the case of the illicit side and the the criminal element uh within the law enforcement environment, they would remove at the bondard. They would remove the by ripping off this uh drug consignment.

[00:14:09]They would remove it and they would seal it again to say, "But we found nothing."

[00:14:15]And they then would distribute it to the uh the the drug syndicates for further distribution.

[00:14:23]Advocate. Can I just ask a general question? Uh, good morning Colonel Stain.

[00:14:29]>> Morning, Commissioner.

[00:14:30]>> What happens when containers get to a port of destination in South Africa? Are they all searched or do you do a random sampling?

[00:14:40]You promised yourself that you'd finally list that purse today, but you just wish that >> what's the procedure when say containers from Brazil, 50 of them from Mexico, 50 of them land at a port in Devon.

[00:14:57]Um, good commissioner, they the port of Durban and as I indicated, we have a number of ports. the port of Durban uh on an average day that time when we had a look at it deal with uh I think about 4 to 4 and a half thousand containers a day.

[00:15:17]So it would make it a task that is that is not humanly possible to to literally check every container. I know that years ago there used to be scanning devices for lack of a better explanation. It was huge X-ray machines that can scan these containers. Uh but but I'm not sure. I I don't think those are in in operation any longer.

[00:15:43]>> So we don't search all the containers.

[00:15:45]We only search those where you have information that there might be something in it.

[00:15:50]>> Indeed, Commissioner.

[00:15:51]>> Thank you.

[00:15:55]>> Uh thank you uh Colonel. Uh so that that uh concludes I think your section then up to paragraph 40. Um and the important point there uh that you make at the at the end is the involvement of corrupt officials that make it possible for the drugs to then enter the market.

[00:16:13]>> Yeah. Um commissioners in in in my humble opinion I I do not think these syndicates would be able to to deal with the rip on rip off method if uh corrupt officials are not involved.

[00:16:27]Uh your next section deals with the Scania consignment investigation and this is not erritt. So we had in uh last week we had Port Shepton which also took place in July 2021 uh June 2021 pardon me 22nd of June 2021.

[00:16:48]Then we have uh the Eritton case which we're going to come to which took place on 9 July 2021. But in this this section you talk about yet another uh drug seizure which took place at the end of July 2021.

[00:17:05]>> That's correct commission.

[00:17:05]>> Can you just address that before we move on to Eritton? Thank you. during the course of our uh the the Buessence case which is the which took place in Eritton. Eritan is part of the Buessence Police precinct. Uh during that investigation we uh constantly had contact with the risk management people of Scania.

[00:17:29]Uh and then to the latter part of of July, it was the last week of July if my memory serves me well. Uh I got a call from uh the that at that time the risk manager of Scania and he indicated to me that there was a a container that came in to the harbor.

[00:17:55]So what happens if a container comes in the transport company ups it from the harbor it's then taken to their depot.

[00:18:04]from their depot uh uh transport arrangements is then made throughout the country where this specific container needs to go to. Uh and at that depot uh the this risk manager indicated to me that there was a lot of police interest in this specific container because the container's I think it's got a 17digit uh uh unique number. Every container in the world uh I think it's 17 digits. I'm I'm speaking under correction, but it's got a a unique uh identification number.

[00:18:39]And this specific container, there was a lot of law enforcement interest around this container. And he then requested because of the issue of the the 9th of July. He then requested that can the DPCI not get involved in this uh to come to to to this uh this yard of the transporter to actually deal with the matter so that there's no other law enforcement involvement uh in in into this container.

[00:19:11]Can I continue with >> why why DPCI and not other law enforcement? What was the concern? I I think uh my opinion my opinion is that Scania was uh happy with the way that we dealt with the the Bless the Eritan case and uh there was sort of a trust built between the Scania risk management people and the and the DPCI. So hence the the call from their side and assistance requested specifically from from the DPCI >> and that was one ton of cocaine in that show.

[00:19:49]>> Uh yes if if I can just uh would you like me to just continue that?

[00:19:55]>> Please sure.

[00:19:56]>> Thank you. Thank you advocate. What happened then was that um as I mentioned earlier, I worked through Brigadier Nika, our national coordinator and uh in that way I connected because I was up here and because the uh the threat if I can call it that threat in inverted commerce was imminent down in Kaden. Uh I had to make contact with my colleagues in Kaen who was actually on or very close to the scene at that stage. So through brigade and nika I got uh hold of the uh sunb coordinators that side and the sun team that side and I linked them and the risk managers of the scan people I linked them to get I linked them up with one another as things would happen. Priya was also on unrelated matter also down in KZN and he promised that he would go to the scene himself. Uh and it was similar to the uh to the Scania one. It was also body parts. And in that cavity between the parts and the door of the container, they uncovered 999 kg of uh cocaine bricks. Uh that was reported then to me later. And um yes, so it's indeed correct. It's basically a ton that they they did uh uh uncover their uh commissioners.

[00:21:20]And did the did these also originate in in Brazil?

[00:21:25]>> Same port. Yeah, it was Yeah, they informed me it was also from the port of Santos in Brazil.

[00:21:32]>> And what happened to that ton of cocaine and that investigation? Where is at the moment?

[00:21:36]>> I'm not sure what happened to the investigation per se, but that cocaine through the intervention of Brigadier Nika, he's at our DPCI head office.

[00:21:44]through his intervention, the cocaine was the very next morning brought up to forensic science laboratory here in in Pritoria, but I'm not sure where that investigation ended up and and what was the outcome.

[00:21:57]>> But the drugs are at the FSL.

[00:21:59]>> That's correct, Commissioners.

[00:22:03]>> Is is SNEP the only uh narcotics enforcement team across the whole of law enforcement?

[00:22:14]Commissioner. No. Uh there is at I I cannot talk for other provinces but Keng also has a provincial investigation unit. That provincial investigation unit is uh part of the if I can call them SAPS detectives not DPCI detectives and they also do indeed deal with uh with narcotic cases. But uh usually the the the the drug labs itself is the the the mandate of uh the DPC.