The South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau (SANEB) team from Gqeberha Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation (SOCI) and Durban SOCI, Durban Metro Police and KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Counter Narcotics Crime Intelligence disbanded the clandestine mandrax manufacturing laboratories in KwaZulu Natal on Wednesday, 8 December 2021.
Intelligence driven information was received about a house where the suspect in the matter had set up a mandrax manufacturing laboratory. The suspect is reported to have recruited various role players to assist in the manufacturing and distribution of mandrax between Durban and other provinces.
The suspect is already in custody as he is attending trial in another matter.
On 8 December 2021, two premises, one in Umlazi and the other in New Germany were raided. It is alleged that in the house in Umlazi, large amounts of mandrax tablets and methaqualone powder were seized.
It is further alleged that in the house at New Germany, which is presumed to be the original house and laboratory, was swabbed by Durban Chemistry Forensic Science Laboratory and Local Criminal Record Centre teams and large amounts of methaqualone dust were found in two rooms. It is suspected that this was the tablet plant.
It is further alleged that the occupant of the house in New Germany has since fled from her work address and never returned to her residence but she is known. She is reported to be the girlfriend of the main suspect who is already in custody.
The Forensic Science Laboratory team collected possible drug samples at the scene for analysis.
Personal items and documents, linking the main suspects, were found at the premises. Mandrax powder weighing 20 kilograms and mandrax tablets weighing 10 kg with a street value of R500 000 were seized during the operation.
The joint effort of the teams is commended by the Provincial Head, Major General Mboiki Obed Ngwenya, who described the drug scourge as the main cause for the commission of a number of horrific criminal activities.
