Germiston drug bust nets 376 Mandrax tablets and R90 000 in chemicals as suspect faces bribery charge

Gauteng police have arrested a man on charges of drug possession and attempted bribery after an intelligence-driven operation in Germiston and Boksburg on Wednesday, 07 October 2026, the South African Police Service said in a statement from the office of the provincial commissioner.

Members of Crime Intelligence began observing the two areas after receiving information that the suspect was allegedly operating from them and distributing drugs. Officers spotted a blue Chery 4 vehicle matching the description of the car the suspect allegedly used, along Kingfisher Road.

The SAPS Ekurhuleni District Trio Tracing Team and the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department were activated, located the vehicle and stopped and searched it. Inside, police found a bag holding 376 tablets suspected to be Mandrax.

Further investigation took the team to the suspect’s residence, where more substances and chemicals suspected to be used in manufacturing drugs were seized. The SAPS put the total value of everything seized at approximately R90 000.

According to the statement, the suspect then allegedly tried to bribe the officers with R4 000 in cash for his release.

He is expected to appear in court soon on charges of possession of drugs and attempted bribery. Police investigations continue.

The account above is drawn from the SAPS media statement, which is a summary of the operation rather than the full case record. The suspect has not been named in that statement, and the charges against him have not yet been tested in court.

Enquiries on the statement were directed to Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi of the SAPS provincial communications office.

Source: South African Police Service, Suspect arrested for drug possession and attempted bribery, drug-manufacturing chemicals seized