STILBAAI NEWS - The Hawks confirmed the arrest of a sixth suspect in connection with a major drug trafficking investigation stemming from last year's cocaine bust in Stilbaai.
The latest suspect, a 31-year-old male, was arrested on 9 June by the Hawks' South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau (SANEB) based in George.
The suspect, already detained at Boksburg Prison in Gauteng on an unrelated matter, was apprehended after investigators executed a warrant of arrest.
He appeared in the Riversdale Magistrates' Court on Wednesday 11 June where he joined five co-accused for a formal bail application.
The case was again postponed until 21 July.
The arrest was the latest development in a case that began in July last year when members of Stilbaai Police and CapeNature intercepted a vessel suspected of carrying narcotics.
Following a high-speed chase, law enforcement discovered fourteen bags of suspected cocaine hidden in compartments on a rubber duck at the Stilbaai harbour.
Two suspects, Alan Bushby and Marko Minic, were arrested on the scene and remain in custody. Investigations led to further arrests including: Marko Fourie and Josip Ivanovic, who are also in custody.
Jordan Brandon Cullinghworth (29), who handed himself over to autho-rities on 21 May and was subsequently released on R120 000 bail.
The matter was postponed to 2 June for further bail proceedings. Ivanovic and Fourie were scheduled to apply for bail; however, Fourie's application proceeded in his absence, as he was appearing in another court matter in Gauteng.
Bushby decided not to apply for bail.
Minic previously applied for bail, but his application was denied.
Earlier this year, on 11 February, the Hawks arrested a third additional suspect, aged 39, in Sandton, Johannesburg, after executing a warrant of arrest related to the same case.
The six accused are facing charges of dealing drugs and the case is expected to continue drawing national attention due to the scale and co-ordination of the alleged trafficking operation.
Authorities have not ruled out further arrests as the investigation continues.
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