BENNI McCarthy’s older brother was arrested with a massive R8.7 million worth of mandrax on the weekend.
Jerome McCarthy, 47, was granted R100,000 bail in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
The brother of South Africa’s all-time leading goal-scorer was himself a Bafana Bafana player in the late 1990s and also played for local clubs Santos and Manning Rangers.
Jerome fell foul of the officials when an alleged drug shipment of 250,000 buttons from Gauteng ended up on his doorstep in Parow.
Hawks spokesperson Zinzi Hani explained: “A joint operation by the Western Cape and Gauteng Hawks’ SA Narcotics Enforcement Bureau (SANEB) promptly responded to information of an alleged parcel containing 250 000 mandrax tablets being delivered at the Cape Town Airport industria from Germiston.”
Sources close to the case say cops intercepted the delivery truck at the airport, asked the driver to give them the delivery address and then drove the truck to the location.
The officers pretended to be delivery guys and allegedly caught Jerome red-handed.
“The team intercepted the vehicle transporting the consignment and further information led them to a residence in Bosbok Street, Parow. A search was conducted upon arrival and a 47-year-old was arrested,” said Hani.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said that Jerome has no previous convictions but will have to adhere to strict bail conditions.
“The suspect was granted R100,000 bail and is required to report every Friday at the local police station between 9am and 4pm.
“He must hand over his passport and the case has been postponed till 25 February 2021.”