DURBAN – Today at 09:00, police officers from the Provincial Investigation Unit assisted by the Ethekwini District Task Team and a private security company proceeded to a warehouse on Quality Street in Jacobs.

The team was following up on bags of cobalt hydroxide that were stolen in Gauteng. Police pounced on the premises to execute a search warrant. Upon searching the warehouse police found a total of 48 bags of cobalt hydroxide that were hidden. The bags were stolen from a warehouse on Prelude Avenue in Gauteng. Each bag weighed 736kg. Police arrived at the premises and seized the product which was destined to be shipped overseas tomorrow.

The recovered bags which are valued at R6, 5 million was positively identified by the lawful owner. It is alleged that on 6 January 2022, 48 bags were stolen while they were held at a warehouse in Gauteng. The stolen property was transported to Durban on 31 January 2022. A case of theft was registered at a police station in Gauteng. The recovered cobalt hydroxide is a powdery green substance that is used as a drying agent for paints, varnishes, inks and is also used as a catalyst in the manufacture of battery electrodes. Police are still searching for the suspects.

Source: South African Police Service