[imagesource: Facebook / South African Police Service]

Before you ask, I Googled around, and snoek and yellowtail are two species of fish commonly caught off the West Coast.

I believe I have covered my bases, and it doesn’t really seem to be a point worth arguing.

Neither of those species mentioned above was the cargo of choice on a fishing vessel intercepted off the coast of Saldanha yesterday evening, with police seizing a massive cocaine haul estimated to be worth around R583 million.

In announcing the haul, the South African Police Service (SAPS) said on Facebook that the “extensive operation [was] led by Western Cape organised crime narcotics unit detectives comprising various tactical operational units”.

The intelligence-driven, evening operation saw various tactical forces descending on the vessel where 973 blocks of compressed cocaine (estimated at R583 million) were found in three compartments of the vessel.

Ten suspects were subsequently arrested on charges of dealing in drugs. They are expected to appear in court in Vredenburg soon.

Further investigations continue as the detectives determine the origins as well as the intended destination of the consignment.

If you look just below the feet of the man in the centre of the photo, it appears that two of the suspects can be seen covered in a white blanket.

I’m quite interested in the branding used, so let’s get in closer on the image right up the top of the page:

That reads ‘King Coca’, and the sparkles are a nice touch, too.

TimesLIVE reports that four Bulgarian nationals and six Myanmar nationals were arrested.

Our condolences to those who intended to celebrate the drop to alert level 1 with a ‘festive’ night out on Bree Street.

[sources:saps&timeslive]