Cape Town - Police have arrested a 38-year-old man found in possession of Mandrax worth R1.3m en route to Cape Town.
Hawks spokesperson Zinzi Hani said the Hawks’ South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau (SANEB), based in Bellville, together with CI Counter Narcotics and Gangs as well as Public Order Policing (POPS) on Saturday, confiscated drugs worth an estimated street value of R1.3m and subsequently arrested the man near Somerset West.
“This comes after the team reacted on information about a vehicle suspected to be carrying a consignment of drugs, that was enroute to Cape Town. The information was operationalised with a strategic deployment,” Hani said.
The team later pulled over the vehicle, a silver Mercedes Benz, on Sir Lowry’s pass.
“A search of the vehicle ensued and the members found 33 000 Mandrax tablets.
“The team also seized the vehicle,” Hani said.
The suspect is facing a charge of dealing in drugs and is expected to make his first appearance on Monday at the Strand Magistrate’s Court.
In an unrelated incident last week, Mitchell’s Plain Crime Prevention Unit members were conducting foot patrols when they received a tip-off of drug sales in the area.
“They acted on the information and busted a 38-year-old male who fitted the description. He had 225 heroine units in his possession,” police spokesperson Ndakhe Gwala said.
The suspect was arrested and charged.
Cape Times