R25m in drugs found in Westonaria lab

Johannesburg - Five people have been arrested in Zuurbekom, Westonaria outside Johannesburg, when a drug laboratory was raided and Mandrax with a street value of R25m was seized, the Hawks said on Wednesday.

"The Hawks seized chemicals, equipment, a delivery van which had panels to conceal the drugs, a large quantity of packed Mandrax tablets, as well as Mandrax powder yet to be pressed for shipment," Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said.

The plot was raided on Tuesday.

A joint operation team from the Vaal and Western Cape had gathered information about the Mandrax manufacturing lab on a plot in Zuurbekom, he said.

The operation began two weeks ago when Hawks members received information of a laboratory manufacturing and transporting Mandrax tablets to clients in the Western Cape.

The five, aged before 27 and 78, were expected to appear in the Westonaria Magistrate's Court on Thursday.