The tiny Western Cape town of Villiersdorp was the scene of what could be the biggest cocaine bust in South African history on Wednesday evening.

More than 250 boxes of cocaine‚ worth R500-million‚ were packed among 480 pallets of wine destined for the export market. The Hawks have been called on to assist.

 Police spokesperson Brigadier Novella Potelwa said the discovery of the drugs is being viewed “as the beginning of an extensive investigation“.

“Part of the investigation would be to also determine where the drugs originate from as well as the ultimate destination‚” said Potelwa.

Three suspects aged 23‚ 27‚ and 42 were also arrested on the farm near the small town of Vyeboom.

Western Cape MEC for community safety Dan Plato congratulated the police on the seizure saying it would ”certainly rattle the kingpins“.

“The biggest and furthest reaching investigation possible is required to uncover the scourge of drugs in communities in the Western Cape‚ the gangs which peddle them‚ the gun-wielding gangsters running around with total disregard for the life of others‚ as well as the kingpins orchestrating these criminal acts‚ murders as well as manufacturing‚ selling and seemingly exportation of drugs‚” said Plato.

 “The biggest drug bust in the province‚ if not the country will certainly rattle the kingpins who continuously operate as if they are above the law. The police’s intelligence-led investigation will have to connect all these dots to see that all involved do not go unpunished.”