Bradley Cecil Jasmin is expected to return to the Grabouw Magistrates’ Court on 22 July for a bail application after a K9 sniffer dog uncovered R2,1 million worth of Mandrax during a routine vehicle checkpoint on the N2 near Grabouw.

On Thursday 9 July, the 61-year-old suspect was randomly stopped during a checkpoint and the K9 narcotics dog “reacted positively to something in a hidden compartment” which led them to the drugs inside his silver Audi. This is according to the pronvincial spokesperson for the Hawks, Lieutenant Colonel Siyabulela Vukabi.

NovaNews first reported the story on Friday 10 July. Jasmin, who is from Durban, was allegedly found with 35 thousand Mandrax tablets concealed in the hidden compartments throughout his vehicle.

He had his first court appearance on Monday 13 July where he elected his own attorney before the matter was postponed, according to Western Cape regional spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Eric Ntabazalila.

During his first appeareance in court, the defence stated that the accused had medical problems.

“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 in Grabouw on the N2 Highway,” said Vukabi. Jasmin was subsequently arrested on drug trafficking charges.

Meanwhile, in April 2024, a vehicle from the Eastern Cape travelling to Cape Town, was stopped at Sir Lowry’s Pass. The car was found to be carrying R2 million worth of Mandrax which was also hidden in the back of the car.

In Novermber 2023, a 34-year-old suspect was found in possession of R2,7 million worth of the drug during a truck stop in Strand. The drugs were concealed in a hidden compartment within the truck.

However, there are no reports indicating any links between these separate drug bust incidents.