A suspected large-scale Mandrax manufacturing laboratory, believed to be worth more than R100 million, has been uncovered in Erasmia, west of Pretoria, with two foreign nationals arrested during an intelligence-led operation.
The raid was carried out on Wednesday by Crime Intelligence and the Hawks’ South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau (SANEB), following a period of monitoring activity at the smallholding.
Police say the facility was allegedly capable of producing about 800,000 Mandrax tablets a day.
Sophisticated drug operation uncovered
Deputy National Commissioner for Policing Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili described the discovery as a major operation and a significant blow to the suspected criminal network behind it.
“What we have uncovered here is a suspected Mandrax manufacturing laboratory,” Mosikili said.
She said the alleged production capacity was particularly concerning.
“We are talking about a sophisticated manufacturing operation that was allegedly producing approximately 800,000 Mandrax tablets a day,” she said.
Mosikili said dismantling the facility would disrupt a network capable of supplying huge quantities of drugs to communities.
“By dismantling this facility, we are disrupting the production capacity of a network capable of flooding our communities with hundreds of thousands of Mandrax tablets every single day,” she said.
The two suspects were arrested during the operation. Their identities and nationalities have not been publicly released.
Police had been monitoring the property
According to Mosikili, Crime Intelligence had been monitoring activities and movements at the property for some time before the Hawks were brought in.
“The information gathered pointed us to this property, and today, working together with the Hawks, we decided to act,” she said.
Police also raised concerns about smallholdings and farms being used as bases for illicit activities, including the manufacturing of drugs.
“But let me be very clear today: these properties are not beyond the reach of the law,” Mosikili said.
She said authorities were targeting the entire drug supply chain rather than focusing only on street-level dealers.
“We are going to the source. We are dismantling the infrastructure. And we are disrupting the networks that manufacture, transport and distribute these drugs,” she said.
Possible crystal meth operation also investigated
The operation may have uncovered more than a Mandrax manufacturing facility.
Authorities are also investigating indications that the property may have been used in the production of crystal meth, although the full extent of the suspected operation remains under investigation.
Police seized drugs and other items during the raid, with authorities expected to provide further details as the investigation progresses.
The exact breakdown of the seized substances and equipment, as well as the final valuation, is still being established.
Part of wider crackdown on drug syndicates
The Erasmia raid forms part of a broader intelligence-led crackdown on organised drug manufacturing and distribution in South Africa.
Mosikili said SAPS had arrested 3,203 suspects for possession of drugs and another 273 for dealing in drugs during the previous week.
Over a four-week period, police recorded 9,033 arrests for drug dealing and 1,102 arrests for drug possession, according to the deputy national commissioner.
The latest operation also highlights the continuing efforts by the Hawks and SAPS to target clandestine laboratories believed to be supplying the illicit drug market.
Mandrax, also known as methaqualone, is a synthetic drug that has long been associated with South Africa’s illicit drug trade. Authorities have repeatedly targeted laboratories producing the tablets and the chemicals used to manufacture them.
In May 2026, the Border Management Authority intercepted a consignment containing methaqualone, commonly known as ABBA and used in the manufacture of Mandrax, at Beitbridge. The substance had an estimated value of almost R1 billion.
The investigation into the Erasmia laboratory is continuing, with the two suspects expected to face criminal charges linked to the alleged drug manufacturing operation.
