54-year-old Parklands businessman arrested for drug possession

Police apprehend Parklands man for drug possession, dealing of illegal substances and bribery

The mandrax tablets found in the possession of a Parklands businessman.

Police arrested a 54-year-old Parklands man for drug possession among others during a routine crime-prevention patrol on New Year’s Eve.

The suspect, who is a local laundromat owner, was noticed by a police officer in the early hours of Friday morning December 31 carrying a bag. When the suspect noticed the police van, he acted nervously, leading the police to further investigate him.

When the suspect was questioned about what was inside the bag, the man handed it over to the police officer and claimed that the bag had been given to him and he was asked to drop it off at the parking area of a shopping centre in Table View, said SAPS provincial spokesperson, Captain Frederick van Wyk.

“The officer opened the bag and immediately recognised the contents inside the plastic bag, as mandrax tablets,” said Captain Van Wyk.

“The man then offered the officer R1 000 not to arrest him. The officer arrested him for being in possession of illegal substances, dealing in an illegal substance and bribery. When counted it was confirmed that there were 1 000 mandrax tablets in the plastic bag.”

The suspect was set to appear at the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Monday January 3 on the charges.