K9 leads to mandrax to the value of R2.1 million in Audi; 60-year-old arrested in Grabouw

A Hawks K9 led officers to the recovery of mandrax to the value of R2.1 million in a silver Audi at a vehicle checkpoint on the N2 in Grabouw, and a 60-year-old man was arrested.

Checkpoint search recovers suspected mandrax

The Hawks said a multi-disciplinary team made up of members of the Hawks’ South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau (SANEB), Provincial Traffic based in Caledon, and the Cape Town K9 Unit carried out a routine vehicle checkpoint in Grabouw on July 9, 2026.

A silver Audi was randomly stopped. A K9 narcotics dog reacted positively to items in the vehicle, prompting a search that recovered the suspected mandrax, the Hawks’ provincial spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Siyabulela Vukubi said.

Arrest and court appearance

Following the discovery, a 60-year-old male suspect was arrested. He is due to appear in the Grabouw Magistrate’s Court on Monday, July 13, 2026, Vukubi said.

Separate fraud case detailed by the Hawks

In a separate matter, the Hawks reported that the Parow Regional Court convicted Mohamed Imran, 39, and Suraya Imran, 37, on charges of fraud and uttering. The Hawks said the investigation began in March 2023 after follow-up information linked the accused to two vehicles obtained fraudulently.

The vehicles a white Toyota Fortuner and a white Mercedes-Benz ML250 were found in the possession of the accused and subsequently seized. The matter has been postponed until September 21 for sentencing, Vukubi said.

What authorities said

“A multi-disciplinary team comprising members of the Hawks’ South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau (SANEB), Provincial Traffic based in Caledon, and the Cape Town K9 Unit acted on intelligence when they conducted a routine vehicle checkpoint (VCP) in Grabouw on the N2 Highway on July 9,”

The Hawks provided the details about the drug seizure.

Editor’s note: wording adjusted to match source on valuation, K9 reaction, and attribution of information.