R50m Durban drug bust: 7 nabbed
A POLICE raid which netted more than R50 million worth of drugs and equipment used for the manufacturing of mandrax at a laboratory operating from a warehouse in Springfield Park, Durban, at the weekend, has been hailed as one of the biggest busts in the city.
Seven people were arrested following an operation by a police task team that included members of the Provincial Organised Crime Unit together with the eThekwini Inner South Cluster Drug and Firearm Unit.
Acting on intelligence, police swooped on the warehouse on Friday and a house in Westville on Saturday.
Former Cape Town residents Zainudeen Abrahams, 52, Malicent Skippers, 33, Natasha September, 32, Joseph Groenewald, 39, Jamie May, 33, Stephinie Hamke, 25, and Randall Jacobs, 36, were arrested and charged with the manufacture of and dealing in mandrax and heroin.
Other charges in terms of the Medicines and Related Substances Control Act are also expected to be added.
They appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Monday, and were remanded into custody for address verification.
According to a source, some of the accused had only been in the city for a week before their arrest.
A search conducted at the warehouse led to the discovery of thousands of kilograms of methaqualone powder which is generally used to produce mandrax tablets.
A tablet press machine, suspected to be used for mandrax tablets, over 60 dies, 10 000 mandrax tablets and 40 000 empty capsule caps were also seized.
Approximately 20kg of methaqualone powder was recovered at the Westville premises.
Anti-Drug Forum SA director Sam Pillay described the bust and arrests as a significant step in eradicating the drug scourge in the country.
“The fact that such a large quantity of heroin was seized is alarming, as it forms the basis for whoonga and sugars, which is causing a great devastation in our communities.
“The officers must be commended, especially for getting to the source which is the lab.
“It is alarming that those arrested are from another city and could be operating as part of a syndicate. It is important that that kingpins are nabbed and to ensure that the syndicate is broken,” he said.
Pillay added that while there are many arrests, convictions remain low.
“We hope that those that are found guilty are convicted and sentenced accordingly. There needs to be a clear message sent out to those that are destroying the lives of people, especially the youth and families.”