By Bhekizenzo Zonele
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) has secured a court order freezing assets worth about R178.6 million allegedly linked to the large-scale Mandrax manufacturing syndicate in Standerton, Mpumalanga.
The Middelburg High Court granted the preservation order on 28 September. It covers a farm, two residential properties, 12 luxury motor vehicles, R3.14 million in cash, and equipment allegedly used to manufacture the drugs.
The order follows a Hawks investigation into an alleged organised criminal network involved in the manufacture, possession and distribution of methaqualone, the active ingredient in Mandrax, as well as alleged conspiracy and money laundering.
The investigation centred on three properties in Standerton: 21 Factory Street, Rooikoppen Farm and 18 Mahonie Street in Flora Park.
Police searched 21 Factory Street in April 2025, where they found chemicals, industrial drums, machinery, and equipment used in illicit drug production. Four Mozambican nationals were arrested.
Investigators were then led to Rooikoppen Farm, about five kilometres away, where police found a fully operational clandestine Mandrax laboratory containing industrial tanks, chemicals, machinery, ovens, sieves, scales and protective equipment. Two more Mozambican nationals were arrested.
Four days later, police searched 18 Mahonie Street and found tablet-pressing machinery, containers of finished powder, a Mandrax tablet marked “BOSS” and other drug-manufacturing equipment. Three South Africans were arrested.
Forensic tests confirmed methaqualone and ortho-toluidine, a chemical precursor used in its manufacture, in samples taken from Factory Street and Rooikoppen Farm.
At the Flora Park property, 544.43kg of seized material tested positive for methaqualone. The finished product was estimated to have a street value of about R178.6 million.
Police also recovered R3,138,730 in cash from the boot of a Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG at the property.
The preserved assets include several BMWs, two Volkswagen Golf GTIs, a Range Rover Sport, a Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG, a Toyota Hilux, a Toyota Dyna truck, an Isuzu truck and a Venter trailer.
A Hawks financial investigation found that several assets were allegedly registered in the names of relatives or associates, while other individuals allegedly controlled, financed or benefited from them.
“The NPA commends the close collaboration between the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit and the AFU in disrupting alleged illicit drug manufacturing and money laundering operations,” NPA regional spokesperson Monica Nyuswa said.
The AFU said that the assets are either proceeds of unlawful activities or were used to commit offences under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.
Two criminal cases linked to the three properties remain before the Standerton Regional Court.
One accused absconded after being released on R100,000 bail, which was later forfeited to the State, while another accused has since died.
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