It is then transported by road through either Angola, Botswana or Namibia before reaching South Africa. Mandrax is often bartered for stolen cars in the transit countries. In November 1995, a clandestine laboratory was discovered between Pretoria and Johannesburg, capable of producing 500,000 tablets simultaneously. In September 1996, on the basis of information supplied by the British police, another laboratory was dismantled in North-West province. The precursor chemicals were imported from Britain and Germany and two of the people arrested were Indians.
Police suspect a South African businessman with Indian connections of owning the laboratory.
Nelson Mandela's ANC had their own networks. Some of the agents very often former criminals recruited as informants who, in the days of apartheid, infiltrated the movements on behalf of the South African secret service, are now also carrying on their activities but for their own benefit. Not long ago South Africa also became a cocaine trafficking hub. While seizures amounted to 69.5 kg in 1994, they reached 179 kg in 1995. This figure will certainly be surpassed in 1996.