HUGE MANDRAX HAUL IS A WAKE-UP CALL

A massive haul of mandrax powder by the Scorpions last week gives a hint at
the size of the narcotics market in this country. The specialised unit
seized four tons of the substance from three houses in a Johannesburg suburb.

This quantity apparently has a street value of about R700-million. Clearly
it points to a ready and growing market, so for those who thought that
South Africa remained relatively untainted, it is time to think again.
Drugs are big business.

It seems that while there are eager users there will be no way of stamping
out the problem, which can be related to a variety of crimes and is closely
associated with the sex and sleaze industry. It is a sorry indictment
against society, and let's not be deluded, the Johannesburg haul is no more
than the tip of the iceberg.

In pulling off the bust after an intensive three-week long investigation
the elite Scorpions have once again proved their worth. But let's also be
sure that the arrest of six men will no more than dent the national supply
lines.

The only way the battle against drugs can be contained is through effective
education, and let those broad-minded liberals who advocate the
legalisation of dagga -- recognised as the entry point to drug abuse --
understand that they are part of the problem. Sadly, among their numbers
are influential personalities. Do we need more evidence that such nonsense
must be resisted?