The Bike Squad attached to Parkweg Police Station arrested a 37-year-old male who was found to be in possession of mandrax tablets on Sunday, 12 March 2023.
The team was patrolling in Bloemfontein Central Business District when they came across the suspect in East Burger Street at about 06:30. The police stopped and searched the male and found in his backpack he was carrying, a transparent plastic bag containing thousand Mandrax tablets.
The team then requested the suspect’s traveling document which he claimed that it was at his residential place. The suspect directed the squad to Tielmanroos Street in Olive Hill in Navalsig Police Station area where police then discovered a clandestine drug laboratory at the backyard of a plot.
Various drug manufacturing equipment were found in the makeshift laboratory. Unidentified powder, crystallized drain cleaner and 10 litres of brown liquid believed to be drug producing and cutting agents were found and confiscated.
A total of 17 packages containing Mandrax tablets and another open package containing 574 tablets were also seized.
A case docket for manufacturing of illegal drugs was opened at Navalsig Police Station. Another case for possession of drugs with an additional charge of contravention of the Immigration Act was opened at Parkweg Police Station.
The Free State Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane commended the vigilance of the team that led to the discovery of the clandestine laboratory and the seizure of drugs with an estimated street value of about R930 000.00.
The General encouraged all the foot soldiers to take a leaf out of the good success and continue to work hard to remove drugs from the streets in this Province.
The suspect will appear in Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court soon.
