Drug bust accused in court

THE seven people accused of dealing and manufacturing heroine and mandrax are expected to appear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court tomorrow.

Zainudeen Abrahams, 52, Malicent Skippers, 33, Natasha September, 32, Joseph Groenewald, 39, Jamie May, 33, Stephinie Hamke, 25, and Randall Jacobs, 36, all of Cape Town, were arrested following a police operation where more than R50 million worth of drugs and equipment were seized.

During their first court appearance last week, the accused were remanded into police custody until their hometown addresses could be verified.

However, on Monday, State prosecutor Makhosi Mthembu said the investigating officer could not go to Cape Town as the State did not have funds.

Defence attorney Kiran Subajan said his clients, all except Abrahams who is being represented by attorney Ridwaan Sayed, were facing prejudice and asked for the short adjournment.

The accused were arrested during an intelligence-driven operation conducted by members of the Provincial Organised Crime Unit and the eThekwini inner south cluster’s provincial drug and firearm unit, who swooped on the alleged drug lab that operated from a warehouse in Springfield Park, Durban.

The police found thousands of kilogram of methaqualone (mandrax) powder, a tablet press machine, over 60 dyes, about 10 000 mandrax tablets, and about 40 000 empty capsules. They then went to a home in Shepstone Place, Westville, where approximately 20kg of methaqualone powder was found.