South Africa intercepts R1bn drug consignment at Zimbabwe border

Johannesburg – South Africa’s border police stopped a truck from Malawi that was driving into the country with drugs worth nearly one billion rand ($61 million), authorities said on Thursday.

The bust at the border with Zimbabwe on Wednesday underscores concerns that the region is emerging as a key player in the international drugs trade.

In an eight-hour search, security forces uncovered more than 700 kilograms (1,540 pounds) of methaqualone, which is used to make the highly addictive drug Mandrax, the border authority said.

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BMA INTERCEPTS DRUG CONSIGNMENT WORTH NEARLY R1 BILLION AT BEITBRIDGE PORT OF ENTRY:

The Commissioner of the Border Management Authority (BMA), Dr Michael Masiapato, has commended border guards and law enforcement agencies following the successful interception of a…

— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) May 28, 2026

The estimated street value of the haul was almost one billion rand, it said in a statement.

Two Malawi nationals and one Zambian were arrested, a spokeswoman told AFP.

While South Africa has a strong market for mandrax, the statement said investigations were underway to determine “the intended destination of the substance and whether the syndicate forms part of a broader transnational criminal network operating within the region or globally”.

Working over 8 hours, the BMA patiently dismantled the truck until a substance was discovered that was confirmed to be methaqualone, also known as ABBA, commonly used in the manufacture of mandrax.

The Hawks and K9 units were called in, with 713 000 grams of the substance seized… https://t.co/nb1s06GjqC

— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) May 28, 2026

In the past two years, there have been at least four major busts of drug-manufacturing labs in South Africa involving Mexican nationals, raising suspicions that Mexican cartels are trying to establish themselves in the region.