Western Cape police seize R2.7 million in mandrax tablets during drug bust
The mandrax seized from the storage facility.
Image: SAPS
A 45-year-old suspect was arrested in Bellville on Monday afternoon after police seized mandrax tablets valued at R2.7 million during a drug bust. The operation, part of Operation Prosper, began with a stop-and-search of a silver Honda Civic in Buczane Street, N2 Gateway.
Members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) initially intercepted a silver Honda Civic in Buczane Street, N2 Gateway.
The Western Cape police spokesperson, Captain Frederick van Wyk, confirmed that officers discovered ten mandrax tablets and an undisclosed amount of cash believed to be the proceeds of crime.
The cash found in possession of the suspect.
Image: SAPS
"Further investigation led them to a storage facility in Stikland, Bellville," van Wyk said. "At the facility, the members found 46 packs containing 1,000 mandrax tablets each and a total of 46,000 units of mandrax tablets, with an estimated street value of R2,760,000."
The suspect remains in custody and is expected to appear in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court once charged.
Operation Prosper is a 2026 South African joint security initiative deploying 2,200 SANDF troops alongside the SAPS to combat rampant illegal mining, gangsterism, and violent crime across multiple provinces. The operation has been authorised by President Cyril Ramaphosa until March 2027. The mission focuses on disrupting crime networks and restoring order in hotspots.