Two foreigners appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Friday in connection with drug offences, fraud and money laundering, police said.
Senior Superintendent Mary Martins-Engelbrecht said the case has been postponed to May 23.
Thomas Scheffer and Shmuel Propheta, both 48, were arrested in March after a joint investigation by the Gauteng crime intelligence unit, the health department and Interpol.
”The investigation started back in November last year. Scheffer, a Namibian, originally from Germany, was arrested at his home in Northcliff Corner, Johannesburg,” said Martins-Engelbrecht.
”Police discovered a mobile lab with equipment and chemicals used in the manufacturing of drugs. They also confiscated R5,5-million worth of steroids and Assent tablets.”
Martins-Engelbrecht said the Assent tablets (similar to Viagra) were smuggled from India via Namibia to South Africa, and sold to sex shops across the country.
”Propheta, an Israeli, was arrested at his home in Oaklands in Johannesburg. He used the aliases of Sam, David and Muly,” she said.
”Police discovered a drug lab and scheduled medicine in the form of diet tablets. These tablets were distributed by fraudulently making use of the name of a Canada-based manufacturing company.”
The tablets were distributed to chemists across Cape Town, Pretoria and Durban, said Martins-Engelbrecht.
It is also believed that Propheta may have been involved in a case involving the manufacturing and distribution of drugs dating back to 2004.
Both Scheffer and Propheta were re-arrested on a warrant issued by the Germiston Magistrate’s Court on Friday relating to drug offences amounting to R660-million for which they will appear in court on May 22.
Martins-Engelbrecht said more arrests were expected.
”Foreigners and locals must take note that if they still think they can engage in criminal enterprises and get away with it, they must think again,” she warned. – Sapa