CAPE TOWN – Efforts to address the drug trade in this province were rewarded with the arrest of a suspect who was apprehended with a significant quantity of mandrax tablets last night in Worcester. Members of the Breede River K9 Unit reacted on intelligence that a white Mercedes Benz Vito van was heading towards Cape Town with the drugs, ostensibly destined for the holiday season. The target vehicle was stopped and a searched by Snoekie the sniffer dog, and his handler. The dog reacted positively to drugs in a sealed compartment which then led to the discovery of 20 000 mandrax tablets with an estimated street value of R800 000-00. The driver of the vehicle, a 51-year-old man from Welgelegen was arrested and is expected to make a court appearance in Worcester once he has been charged with dealing in drugs.

In an unrelated police intervention in Manenberg last night, a 28-year-old man was arrested in possession of an unlicensed firearm without a serial number in Greatfish Avenue by the Crime Prevention Unit. Once charged, he is expected to make his court appearance in Athlone for the possession of a prohibited firearm and ammunition.