JOHANNESBURG - Millions of South Africans are preparing for the start of the 2026 tax filing season.
It's also a period during which SARS and the Hawks are on high alert for shipment of illicit goods and drugs.
Authorities have intercepted two major drug consignments in Durban in May and June.
In May, R13 million worth of cocaine was discovered hidden inside a bus that was shipped from South America. Thirty-two cocaine blocks were found hidden inside the bus’s air conditioning unit.
Earlier this month, SARS and the Hawks seized another 30 bricks of cocaine at the Durban harbour. The consignments were identified through intelligence-led profiling and risk assessment by SARS Customs officers. Targeted inspections, supported by detector dogs and on-site verification, resulted in the detection and recovery of the concealed drugs.
SARS Commissioner Johnstone Makhubu says the recent successes were all due to their improved intelligence capabilities.
"We know that between June and October, there is always attempts to bring in narcotics into the country. It's an inter-agency operation that we have embarked on, and we are pretty confident on the intelligence that we have, working with other jurisdictions like the World Customs Organisation."
He said they were also increasingly relying on technology to enable more accurate and efficient scanning of goods coming into the country.
"For instance, we have installed high-tech cargo container scanners in various ports of entry, including the harbours, to be able to pick up any nefarious activity that may include the trafficking of drugs. It is a global problem, but we, working with the likes of the Hawks, the Ports Authority, as well as the BMA believe that we are getting closer to managing this particular matter."