A major drug trafficking operation has been dismantled in Houghton, where Johannesburg law enforcement discovered an illegal cache of codeine-based medicine and dagga valued at more than R20 million.
The raid, conducted over the weekend, followed a tip-off and formed part of an intelligence-led operation spearheaded by City of Johannesburg Public Safety MMC, Dr Mgcini Tshwaku, with the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department’s Tactical Response Unit (TRU), CCTV Units and city councillors.
Authorities revealed that the drugs were being processed and packaged inside a hijacked residential propertyty used as a distribution hub for cross-border trafficking.
Tshwaku revealed that the narcotics were reportedly destined for Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, transported via cross-border buses and informal courier vehicles known locally as Malayisha.
During the operation, officers recovered large quantities of prescription cough syrup containing codeine, a schedule 5 substance restricted under South African law and processed dagga valued at approximately R2 million.
Eight suspects were arrested on charges including drug possession, drug dealing and the illegal occupation of the property. Officials said tenants were paying rent into a bank account registered under an unidentified name, signalling potential involvement of a wider criminal network.
Tshwaku praised the operation’s success and warned those involved in similar activities.
“This operation demonstrates our unwavering commitment to rooting out criminal syndicates exploiting hijacked properties to facilitate drug trafficking. Lawlessness in any form will not be tolerated in the City of Johannesburg,” he said, adding that further raids are expected as investigations continue.
The incident follows another involving BronCleer, a codeine-based cough syrup that has resurfaced in recent months where South Africans raised concerns over the continued shipping of medication.
Police uncovered a stash of unregistered medicines, including BronCleer, in a separate bust in Kimberley, raising alarms about unlawful distribution by unlicensed operators.
When the incident drew attention on social media, City of Tshwane MMC for Health Services Tshegofatso Mashabela issued a firm clarification, dismissing claims that public clinics are supplying BronCleer to patients.
Mashabela emphasised that the product is not distributed in legitimate public health facilities and urged the public to be cautious of unverified information circulating online.
anita.nkonki@inl.co.za
Saturday Star