Convict details alleged offshore cocaine retrieval operation off South Africa's coast.
Image: File
The State has secured a conviction against a man involved in a sophisticated cocaine smuggling operation after he revealed how a drug shipment was allegedly dropped from a passing vessel in international waters off the Southern Cape coast before being retrieved by a waiting crew.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomed the sentencing of 52-year-old Alan Bushby, who was handed an effective 10-year direct imprisonment sentence after pleading guilty to dealing in 400.84 kilograms of cocaine.
The Western Cape High Court in Cape Town sentenced Bushby to 15 years' imprisonment, with five years suspended for five years on condition that he is not convicted of similar drug offences during the suspension period.
His conviction stems from a July 2024 operation in which a large cocaine shipment was allegedly dropped into the ocean off Stil Bay and later recovered by a group travelling aboard a rubber duck.
As part of a plea and sentencing agreement with the State, Bushby provided detailed information about how the operation allegedly unfolded.
According to court documents, Bushby was approached by a man identified as Mathew Smith in July 2024 and asked whether he would be interested in making quick money by helping recover cocaine from the sea.
Bushby said he was told that a passing ship would drop a shipment of cocaine into international waters off the Stil Bay coastline and that his role would be to help retrieve the parcels and bring them ashore.
He claimed he was informed that the shipment weighed about 100 kilograms, although authorities later recovered more than 400 kilograms of cocaine linked to the operation.
Bushby told the court he agreed to participate because he needed money to launch a tourism business venture in Namibia known as Desert Adventures.
He travelled to South Africa with his Namibian girlfriend, who he said was unaware of his involvement in the operation. He allegedly told her they were visiting the Western Cape as tourists and later informed her that he would be going on a fishing trip.
On the morning of July 18, 2024, he was dropped off at Stil Bay Harbour, where he met several individuals, including co-accused Renaldo Beukes, Dicky Johan Benzien, Marko Ninc and Josip Ivanovic.
According to Bushby, Beukes and Benzien were introduced as the skippers of the vessel, while Ivanovic appeared to be directing the operation.
He told the court that Ivanovic provided Beukes with a satellite phone and informed him that coordinates identifying the drop-off location would be supplied within 48 hours.
Bushby's task was allegedly to help secure the shipment once it had been recovered from the water.
Over the next two days, the vessel remained at sea while coordinates were repeatedly updated. At one stage, the group was instructed to return to the harbour to collect an additional passenger and more fuel before heading back out to sea.
Bushby said the crew eventually located the vessel carrying the drugs.
They allegedly signalled the ship using torches and received a response before the cocaine packages were dropped into the water.
The drugs were recovered and secured aboard the rubber duck.
However, what followed allegedly turned deadly.
Bushby told the court that shortly after the shipment had been loaded, the group was instructed to remain at sea while awaiting further instructions.
While travelling back towards shore, he heard what he described as a loud bang.
He then allegedly saw Ninc holding a firearm while another man who had boarded the vessel earlier lay dead.
According to Bushby, Ninc pointed at several people on the vessel and repeatedly told them they were "good" before indicating that the deceased was "not good".
Bushby alleged that the man's body was thrown overboard and that blood was subsequently cleaned from the vessel.
He said he was terrified and feared he could be killed next.
Bushby maintained that he had no prior knowledge of any plan to murder the deceased and was unaware that Ninc was carrying a firearm.
The group eventually returned to shore on the evening of July 19 after spending much of the day drifting at sea.
Bushby was instructed to drive an SUV towing a boat trailer while Ninc and another individual travelled with him towards Jongensfontein.
Police later stopped the vehicle, prompting Bushby and Ninc to flee on foot.
The pair allegedly sought refuge at a guesthouse in Stil Bay but were arrested later that evening.
Bushby told the court he never received any payment for his role in the operation.
He further revealed that he later learnt Smith had died in what was believed to be a suicide.
Bushby is expected to testify for the State against his co-accused, Renaldo Beukes, Dicky Johan Benzien, Mathew Fourie, Jordan Cullingworth, Nemanja Vuckovic, Marko Ninc and Josip Ivanovic.
The accused face charges including murder and dealing in drugs. Vuckovic, Ninc and Ivanovic also face charges under the Immigration Act relating to allegations that they were unlawfully present in South Africa.
NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said the remaining accused appeared in the Western Cape High Court on Friday.
"The matter was postponed to 28 August 2026 for a further pre-trial hearing. Further particulars will be provided to the new legal representatives of accused three and six. The matter was also postponed to secure a Serbian interpreter for the last three accused, namely Vuckovic, Ninc and Ivanovic," he said.
The case is expected to return to court in August as preparations continue for the trial of the remaining accused.