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Operation Irene: Cross-Border Success Against Drug Trafficking
South African authorities announced a big cocaine bust as part of an international operation called Irene. The operation demonstrated amazing teamwork between borders and it was a step forward against international drug trafficking.
the South African Revenue Services (SARS), with cooperation of Brazilian officials, reported the smart move that led to target suspicious containers headed to Durban. During operation Irene, A Customs marine stopped the cargo ship around four nautical miles east of Durban and brought it in to the port for inspection.
Once at the dock, customs officers started a search and checked the flagged containers. And found 25 large blocks of cocaine inside the cooling system of some containers. Right after confirmation of presence of cocaine, the drugs were handed to the police for investigation and further legal action. Operation Irene was a success.
SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter praised the officers for their hard work and mentioned the Importance of the operation Irene emphasizing how cooperation between BRICS countries (like South Africa and Brazil) can effectively fight organized crime. “This achievement also signals that the efforts by all law enforcement agencies in our county are taking on the challenge of protecting our borders” he added.
The police reported that the bust was worth approximately 3.2 million dollars. Making operation Irene a major victory. Apparently, the discovered cocaine was very pure and could be distributed in larger amounts being diluted with other substances.
