Mike Mangena named as former Chiefs player in drug bust

Cape Town - Football commentator Mike Mangena has been named as the former Kaizer Chiefs legend who was taken in for questioning after police raided a drug lab, on Wednesday.

Mangena was detained by police for questioning after a raid on a drug lab on property owned by the former striker.

According to a SowetanLIVE report, the 54-year-old handed himself in after a drug lab producing mandrax was discovered in Randfontein, Johannesburg.

The report says police spokesperson Lieutenant Lungelo Dlamini confirmed that the former player, now revealed to be Mangena had been taken into custody after a police crime intelligence investigation led to the raid.

"The multi-disciplinary team observed the smallholding for a period of time, until they were satisfied that they had enough evidence to apply for a search warrant," Police spokesperson Colonel Brenda Muridili told News24.

"The search warrant was effected in the early hours of this (Wednesday) morning and the team discovered a steel shed full of chemicals and machines used to manufacture mandrax as well as a truck containing liquid chemicals.

"The forensic science laboratory crime scene investigators are currently at the scene collecting evidence. The value of the clandestine drug laboratory will be determined by forensics as soon as they are done with their analysis," she said.

Muridili said police initially found three men at the premises when they arrived and the men claimed to be looking after livestock.

They claimed they didn’t know what was happening at the smallholding. The owner was called and later arrested.