N$1m bribe offered for cocaine shipment

State prosecutor Salomon Kanyemba has dropped a bombshell in the bail application of two men arrested in connection with a 412kg cocaine bust at Walvis Bay.

Kanyemba told the court that four men had approached two State witnesses, one of whom is a clearing agent, on separate occasions and offered them between N$500 000 and N$1 million to remove the drugs from the container prior to its discovery by customs officials and police officers in the port.

Grant Noble (36), represented by Jan H. Wessels, and Dinath Azhar (62), represented by Sisa Namandje, are applying for bail in the Walvis Bay Magistrate's Court.

They are appearing before Magistrate Ilge Rheent.

The State is opposing bail in connection with the biggest drug bust in the country's history. The cocaine, which was discovered in June at the port of Walvis Bay, was valued at about N$206 million.

Rheent postponed the bail hearing until 3 September for finalisation of arguments. She is expected to deliver her ruling on 7 September.

Wessels informed the court that Noble could afford N$50 000 bail and was prepared to adhere to strict bail conditions. Azhar said he could raise between N$30 000 and N$50 000 for bail.

Both men maintained their innocence in the matter. They emphasised that they had never visited Brazil, were not present when the container was loaded and did not know who had sealed it.

During court proceedings it emerged that Noble and Azhar met while attending services at a mosque in Narraville and discussed making money. A company called Zeeki Trading CC was subsequently created, with Noble as the sole member and Azhar as a silent partner and financier.

According to the duo they conducted research on the internet and decided to import A4 photocopy paper from a company in Brazil.

Azhar then sourced N$250 000 from his family members in South Africa to order the paper and they expected to make a profit of N$80 000 by selling it to local schools and companies.

It also emerged that they had rented a warehouse, which they didn't use for over a year, at N$15 000 per month.

A container with their goods eventually arrived in Walvis Bay on 9 June and was seized by customs officials on suspicion that it contained drugs.

Noble said when he arrived at the container next to the port police station on a Friday, he saw members of the drug squad and a sniffer dog, which made him realise they were looking for drugs.

The seal was broken in the presence of the two accused and two pallets were removed from the container. These contained A4 photocopy paper and were cleared to be removed.

He said he proceeded to the north gate to sort out the required paperwork so that he could remove the cleared boxes.

Noble then received a cellphone call from customs officials, demanding that he immediately return to the container.

“When the dog started sniffing the second row of pallets it started biting at the boxes. When the boxes were opened they removed a block appearing to be cocaine. I knew this because I saw similar stuff taking place in a TV series titled 'Narcos'.

“They proceeded and opened some of the blocks with a knife. I realised that this spelled trouble. I became dizzy, nauseous and collapsed. I hardly have anything to my name. How would I manage to import cocaine to the value of N$206 million?”

The investigating officer, Detective Inspector Charles Goagoseb, said the State had a strong case and investigations had linked the two accused to the crime.

“There is a strong possibility and I am confident that we will obtain convictions. The investigations have not been concluded yet and can take approximately one year to be completed, since there is a lot to be covered. Once done we could also add charges of racketeering and money laundering,” Goagoseb said.

OTIS FINCK