A sixth suspect has been arrested in connection with a multi-million rand drug bust in Still Bay last year.
According to previous police reports, members attached to the Still Bay police acted on information received about suspicious activities at the Still Bay harbour on Friday, 19 July 2024. While travelling, the officers spotted the vehicle with a “rubber duck” on the trailer, which fitted the description.
The vehicle reportedly sped off, and a chase with police ensued. Police brought the vehicle, a Toyota Pajero, to a halt at Jongensfontein Road, Still Bay, where the occupants got out and fled into the bushes.
Officers later tracked down and apprehended the two men at a local accommodation establishment. Upon searching the rubber duck boat, the police found 14 bags containing 400 bricks of cocaine worth an estimated R252 million.
The suspects, Alan Bushby, a 48-year-old man from Gauteng and Marko Minic, a 39-year-old Russian national, are facing a charge of dealing in drugs.
Following their arrests and further investigations, the Hawks’ South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau (SANEB) team based in George, arrested a third additional suspect on 11 February 2025 after the execution of a warrant of arrest. The 39-year-old suspect, Josip Ivanovic, was arrested in Sandton, Johannesburg and faces charges of dealing in drugs.
Authorities later revealed that the number of suspects arrested for the bust has risen to five. In a statement, the Hawks announced that a 29-year-old suspect handed himself over to the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team based in George at Riversdale SAPS.
The suspect, Jordan Brandon Cullinghworth, briefly appeared in the Riversdale Magistrates Court today, 21 May 2025, and he was subsequently released on R120,000 bail. The matter against Cullinghworth was remanded to 2 June 2025 to appear alongside his four co-accused, Alan Bushby, Marko Minic, Josip Ivanovic and Marko Fourie.
At the time, it was noted that Ivanovic and Fourie would bring their formal bail application on 2 June 2025, but Fourie’s bail application will be heard in his absence as he will be appearing on another matter in Gauteng province. Alan Bushby did not apply for bail, and Marko Minic previously applied for bail, which was denied by the court.
In the latest and sixth arrest, the Hawks’ SANEB team based in George arrested a 31-year-old suspect for dealing in drugs on Monday, 09 June 2025. This was after a warrant of arrest was executed in Boksburg prison in Gauteng, where he is detained for an unrelated matter.
This brings the total number of arrested suspects in this matter to six. He will appear in the Riversdale Magistrates Court on Wednesday, 11 June 2025, where he will be joining his co-accused, who will appear for a bail application.
