Madlanga Commission: Drug syndicates using real-time tracking technology, says KZN Hawks officer
Karl Sander says investigators frequently intercept cargo fitted with tracking devices, which he says are used by criminal networks to monitor the movement of drug shipments.
Drug trafficking syndicates are often equipped with sophisticated technology that allows them to track their consignments in real time.
This is what the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry has heard from Hawks warrant officer Karl Sander.
The KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) officer has returned to the witness stand for a second day of testimony on the theft of more than 500kg of cocaine from Hawks offices in Port Shepstone.
Sander says that investigators frequently intercept cargo containing tracking devices, which he says are used by criminal networks to monitor the movement of drug shipments.
He added that law enforcement agencies are constantly forced to adapt their methods to stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated syndicates.
Sander further detailed the dangers faced by police officers after a major mandrax seizure in Durban in 2020.
"I had my partner rushed to hospital and I had a member from customs collapse on the scene," said Sander.
Sander concludes testimony before inquiry
He concluded his testimony before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on an emotional note after learning that the results of a polygraph test he was said to have failed were later deemed invalid because of errors by the examiner.
Sander had been under suspicion for allegedly playing a role in the theft of cocaine from Hawks offices in 2021.
Commission hears polygraph results deemed invalid
Evidence leader, Advocate Lee Segeels-Ncube read into the record a statement confirming that the polygraph results could not be relied upon, prompting an emotional reaction from Sander as the commission heard the findings.
"The results on the summary were obtained after the tests were done. This is in relation to the first report, later during the administrative review process. The reviewer went through all documents and found that the polygraph examiner had made serious errors during the polygraph examination process," explained Segeels-Ncube.
"A non-conformance [report] was opened and investigated against the polygraph examiner. The test was considered invalid so that the examinee was not prejudiced by the errors of the polygraph examiner."
Find us on social media
Follow the ECR Newswatch WhatsApp channel here
We are also on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter)
