Commander of the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit in Durban, Gavin Jacob, has denied allegations that he played a role in a decision that ultimately led to the theft of a massive cocaine consignment from a police storage facility.
Jacob appeared before the Madlanga Commission in Pretoria on Wednesday, where he provided detailed testimony regarding the handling of 541 kilograms of cocaine seized during a major drug bust in Durban in 2021. The confiscated drugs were later stolen from Hawks offices in Port Shepstone, sparking questions about how such a large quantity of narcotics ended up being stored at a facility that has since come under scrutiny.
During his testimony, Jacob firmly rejected suggestions that he was involved in planning or facilitating the storage of the drugs at the Port Shepstone offices.
The commander insisted that he merely followed instructions after exhausting all available options for securing the evidence following the successful operation.
The matter has become a significant point of discussion before the commission, particularly as investigators seek to determine how the drugs disappeared and whether any officials may have contributed to the circumstances that made the theft possible.
Jacob Explains Events Following Major Drug Bust
The controversy stems from a high-profile operation conducted in June 2021 at the Isipingo depot in Durban.
During the operation, law enforcement officers intercepted a shipping container carrying 541 kilograms of cocaine. The seizure was regarded as one of the most significant drug busts in the region and represented a major success in the fight against organised crime and drug trafficking.
Jacob led the operation and was responsible for overseeing the immediate handling of the confiscated drugs.
According to his testimony, his first priority was to ensure that the evidence was stored securely.
Jacob told the commission that he initially wanted the cocaine to be kept at the Isipingo police station, which was located closest to the scene of the seizure.
However, that request was rejected.
Officials at the station reportedly informed him that they could not accommodate the drugs because officers had recently become ill after exposure to narcotics that had been stored in the station’s evidence locker.
As a result, alternative arrangements had to be explored.
Jacob explained that he then contacted several other police stations and even approached the South African Police Service forensic science laboratory in an effort to secure suitable storage.
Despite these efforts, no facility was willing or able to accept responsibility for such a large quantity of confiscated drugs.
After failing to find a storage location, Jacob said he contacted his superior officer, Brigadier Campbell Nyuswa, to seek guidance.
According to Jacob, Nyuswa instructed him to transport the cocaine to the Hawks’ offices in Port Shepstone.
The commander stressed that the final decision regarding the storage location did not originate from him.
Instead, he said he merely reported that all other options had been exhausted and then acted on the instructions he received.
“It’s clear that I was not involved in the decision to store at Port Shepstone,” Jacob told the commission.
He argued that allegations suggesting he intentionally helped create the circumstances that resulted in the drugs being stored there are unfair and misleading.
Jacob maintained that his role was limited to informing his superior that no alternative storage facilities were available.
He said there was never any intention on his part to place the evidence at risk or contribute to any scheme involving the drugs.
The commander also emphasised that his actions were consistent with operational procedures and that he relied on decisions made by senior officers within the chain of command.
A major issue before the commission has been the security of the Hawks’ offices in Port Shepstone, where the cocaine was ultimately stored before being stolen.
Several witnesses who previously testified before the commission claimed the facility had a history of security problems.
Evidence presented to the inquiry suggested that the offices had been broken into on previous occasions and that concerns about the building’s security had been raised long before the disappearance of the drugs.
These revelations have led to questions about why such a valuable and sensitive consignment was kept there.
However, Jacob told the commission that he was unaware of any security weaknesses at the facility at the time the drugs were transported there.
He said he had no knowledge of previous break-ins or warnings about vulnerabilities at the offices.
According to Jacob, had he been informed about such risks, the information would likely have influenced discussions regarding storage arrangements.
The commander insisted that he acted in good faith throughout the process and had no reason to suspect that the evidence would later be stolen.
As the Madlanga Commission continues its investigation, Jacob’s testimony is expected to play a crucial role in determining how the cocaine disappeared and whether any officials bear responsibility for the decisions that led to one of the most controversial evidence thefts in recent law enforcement history. The inquiry is continuing to hear evidence from various witnesses as it seeks to uncover the full circumstances surrounding the case.
Source- EWN
