UPDATE – 1 October 2026: The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has confirmed that more charges are likely to be added in the case against a cleaner employed at the Wynberg Magistrates Court, who was caught trying to smuggle contraband to a detainee at the court on Monday.
Wynberg Police officers reportedly caught the 42-year-old, identified as Marco Harrison, in the act and seized mandrax tablets, tobacco, crystal meth, dagga, a cellphone and a charging cable. Police officers conducted a further search of the employee’s office on Tuesday and found more contraband found in his office.
According to the NPA, Harrison appeared in the Wynberg Magistrates Court on Wednesday, charged with dealing in drugs. His case has reportedly been postponed until 04 December 2026 for further investigation.
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30 September 2026: Wynberg Police members have arrested a cleaner employed at the Wynberg Magistrates Court after receiving intelligence information that he intended to hand over contraband to a detainee on Monday, 28 September 2026.
According to police constable Ndakhe Gwala, the officers went to the court at about 07:30 on Monday and caught the suspect in the act.
Police reportedly seized a bag containing 88 mandrax tablets, 10 packets of tobacco, seven packets of crystal meth, five packets of dagga, a cellular telephone with two SIM cards and a charging cable. Gwala says the 42-year-old suspect was arrested on the spot for possession of illegal drugs.
Gwala says officers conducted another search on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, this time of the suspect’s office in the court building.
“They found a bag that allegedly belongs to the suspect and inside were 402 mandrax tablets, 41 sachets of crystal meth, one packet of cocaine, five packets of dagga, 14 cellular telephones with 16 various network SIM cards and two cellular telephone chargers.”
The bag with its contents was seized and booked in as an exhibit. The suspect will make his first court appearance before the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday 30 September 2026.
READ MORE: Officer praised for avoiding alleged drug smuggling plot
