R380 million ($50 million) worth of cocaine was seized off a boat in the idyllic, Knysna Harbour on the Garden Route of South Africa this past Saturday. This is a huge haul for a town with a population of 55 000. It’s a seemingly contrasting fact that many consider Knysna to be the prettiest town in the country – it is!
It’s also my home and, along with many locals, i’ll be saying that the rumours finally got proven true.
As Martin, a mate of mine said, “Every one else takes coke thru the nose. Knysna takes it thru the heads.” It’s a colloquialism for The Heads are the 2 bluffs separating the sea from the top ranked estuary in the country. A gap affords access to the harbour where there is no port control. I responded to Martin that, “Some people just got it up the arse.”
The Heads
There are oft 2 kinds of attitudes residing here. One talks about how awesome this town is whilst glossing of the bad. The other is in reverse. I’m in between which is where Truth lies. And, even after that, i’d still tell you that there is no better place to live.
Knysna is the best of worlds whilst simultaneously possessing an underbelly involving corrupt police and a huge drug problem. The former deserve special mention for we’ve made the news before regarding police being involved in the drug trade and, more recently, allegedly killing a suspect and allegedly raping a woman in a police van in the parking lot of a shopping centre. I had a mate who got roughed up by the police whilst still in shock from a car accident, another arrested for drunken walking (after being responsible by leaving his vehicle behind) and my own interaction with a policeman giving me a call which, in essence, was on behalf of a druggy, local business owner who i was in disagreement with (no, i’m not daft enough to mention names – i’ve chosen a simple life now in which i hope to avoid conflicts – but i was careful to prepare a document which i gave to friends in case shit ever happened to me).
Knysna Harbour
I make extra mention of the police here because i know that rumours will fly, as they do in small towns. Many of those will be one-sided accusations of police on the take and where are their arrests. But i’m hoping that people see the other side which is that GOOD POLICEMEN DID A STAND-UP JOB. It’s really good to know that they are around! If i knew who they were i’d buy them a round of beers.
5 people were arrested. Hopefully it will lead to more.
CONGRATS ON THE BUST, LADS!
that cocaine is for sale now on the streets as we speak!the cops will" destroy ,burn" talcum powder in its place!
Corruption is an immense problem but i won't jump to that conclusion because there are good cops too. There is a bigger worry and that is that this was only one load captured, an important distinction considering that the boat was apparently in and out for months.
I believe that the bust of the 2 tons in the Knysna harbour of cocaine was valued at R540 billion rand and believe me this is accurate. Shocking isn't it!? Just think of how much cocaine has already passed through the heads that we don't even know about. I wouldn't be surprised if since the arrests that more has passed through unnoticed.
Yes, i heard R500 million (not billion). The figure has fluctuated many times which irks me since it shows that communication from the SAPS to the public is practically non-existent. Major cases should have regular updates. It's terrible that the alleged Spar rape etc. vanish so quickly from the public's radar.