KZN Hawks, Brig. Campbell Nyuswa, hinted that the person who stole the R200 million drugs from the Hawks safe was known but refused to drop the name.
Image: Kamogelo Moichela / IOL News
Hawks commander, Brig. Campbell Nyuswa, has cast doubt on the theft of cocaine worth R200 million from a Hawks safe in KwaZulu-Natal(KZN), saying this may have been an inside job.
Testifying before the Madlanga Commission on Wednesday, Nyuswa, said he did not believe the safe at the Hawks' Port Shepstone offices had been breached in the manner investigators claimed.
Nyuswa said he was sceptical that thieves had gained access by grinding through the safe door, adding that he had been assured the strong-room could not be opened without a key.
"I was shocked that the safe had been breached, but more than that I was sceptical that it had been breached by grinding the door," he told the commission.
The 541kg cocaine haul disappeared from a walk-in safe in November 2021 after being seized by authorities.
Nyuswa said investigators should have seriously considered whether the crime scene had been staged and sought expert analysis to determine whether the damage to the safe was consistent with a forced entry.
He also revealed that both the original and spare keys to the safe had been handed to Hawks provincial head, Lesetja Senona, and said he believed the drugs would remain secure.
Furthermore, Nyuswa told the commission he knew the identity of the person who stole the cocaine but refused to name the individual.
"I can't say the name, commissioners," he said.
Nyuswa later apologised to South Africans for his role in the matter, saying he regretted what had happened.
He has concluded his testimony at the commission. A new witness is expected on Thursday.
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