The largest consignment of Mandrax powder seized to date worldwide was destroyed outside Johannesburg on Thursday, the National Prosecuting Authority said.
”Today, we are destroying 45 tonnes of what kills our children, of what kills society,” said National Director of Public Prosecutions Vusi Pikoli, who oversaw the destruction with musician and former addict Tsepo Tshola — the ”Village Pope” — at Holfontein.
Pikoli said he was told the seizure amounts to only a fifth of the South African market.
”That’s very serious,” he said.
The R1,2-billion-worth of methaqualone, packed in blue garbage bags and white drums, was placed in a 5m-deep trench at a landfill site guarded by armed, uniformed members of the Scorpions wearing gas masks.
It was chemically neutralised with waste liquids and sodium hydroxide.
Said Tshola: ”I am one of the very few who lived to tell the story. I have buried friends. I have buried colleagues. Some of them are in hospital, some of them are almost crazy running up and down, hiding from society.
”Today, what is going to be destroyed could have made a criminal a rich man, but thanks to the Scorpions for saving the lives of thousands of children out there.”
The National Prosecuting Authority said the Mandrax powder was seized in two busts at the Durban harbour last year.
While both consignments were being sent to fictitious addresses in Mozambique and Namibia, investigators believe the shipments were headed for South Africa, which is reputed to have the largest Mandrax market in the world.
Scorpions spokesperson Makhosini Nkosi said the estimated street value of R1,2-billion was based on the estimated price per Mandrax tablet of R30.
He said in some areas Mandrax tablets cost up to between R50 and R60, which means the street value of the consignment could be as much as R2-billion or more. — Sapa