A 45-year-old suspect has been arrested following a massive drug bust in Bellville, where mandrax tablets with an estimated street value of R2.7 million were confiscated.
The operation, conducted by members attached to Operation Prosper, took place on Monday afternoon following a successful stop-and-search in Delft.
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.
“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.
IOL
Robin-Lee Francke
iol.co.za