Two Foreign Nationals Arrested As South African Police Bust Multimillion-Rand Mandrax Lab In Pretoria
Two Foreign Nationals Arrested As South African Police Bust Multimillion-Rand Mandrax Lab In Pretoria
The South African Police Service disclosed the development in a series of posts on its Facebook page on Wednesday.
Two foreign nationals have been arrested after South African police uncovered a clandestine Mandrax drug laboratory in Erasmia, west of Pretoria.
The arrests were made by the South African Police Service’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, commonly known as the Hawks, following a Crime Intelligence Head Office-driven operation.
The South African Police Service disclosed the development in a series of posts on its Facebook page on Wednesday.
The police said information received by the Hawks led to the operation and the discovery of the laboratory, which was estimated to be worth millions of rand.
“Two foreign nationals have been arrested by the #Hawks’ South African Narcotics Bureau following a Crime Intelligence Head Office-driven operation, after information was handed over to the Hawks,” the police said.
“The operation led to the discovery of a clandestine Mandrax laboratory, estimated to be worth millions, in Erasmia, west of Pretoria.”
The police said Lieutenant Colonel Singo was heading to the scene as officers continued their investigation.
In a subsequent update, the South African police described the operation as a joint effort between Crime Intelligence Head Office and the Hawks.
“An active scene is currently underway in Erasmia, west of Pretoria, following a joint operation between Crime Intelligence Head Office and the #Hawks,” the police said.
“The operation has led to the discovery of a multimillion rand clandestine Mandrax drug laboratory.”
Police said the crime scene was being processed as investigations continued, adding that more details would be released later.
In another update, the police said officers were processing the scene following the discovery of the drug laboratory.
“The Deputy National Commissioner for Policing, Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili, is currently on the scene and being taken through the drug laboratory,” the statement said.
“Lt General Mosikili is being shown the drugs, the manufacturing process and how the drugs were being stored at the laboratory.”
The police did not immediately disclose the identities or nationalities of the two foreign nationals arrested in connection with the laboratory.
They also did not state the quantity or estimated street value of the Mandrax recovered at the scene.
Mandrax, also known as methaqualone, is a controlled sedative drug that has historically been illicitly manufactured and distributed in parts of Southern Africa
The South African police said further details would be released as the operation and investigations progressed.
