Bail hearing for Lucas Legabe postponed to September after arrest over Hawks drug theft

Lucas Legabe, 49, has appeared in the Port Shepstone Magistrate’s Court after his arrest on August 7 relating to the theft of a large drug consignment from Hawks premises, court and police records show.

Arrest and court appearances

Legabe was arrested after an investigation by the Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit based in Pretoria, Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said. He first appeared in Germiston on August 11 before being transferred to KwaZulu-Natal, where he was remanded in custody.

The case details

The matter concerns the disappearance of a 541kg consignment of cocaine, which the IOL report says was valued at about R200 million. The drugs were seized in June 2021 after Hawks investigators inspected a container at the CHC container depot in Isipingo that had initially been suspected of containing 27kg of drugs.

According to the report, the cocaine was later moved to the Hawks’ Port Shepstone offices for storage. The consignment was then stolen during a burglary in November 2021.

Inquiry and ongoing investigation

The theft has been examined at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, where evidence about the seizure, handling, storage and disappearance of the cocaine has been heard. Mogale told reporters:

“Investigations are ongoing, with police continuing to pursue all those involved. Further arrests have not been ruled out.”

Next court date

Legabe is expected to return to court for his formal bail application on September 8 and 9.

Reporting compiled from IOL coverage.