Two Limpopo men arrested for allegedly dealing in “magic mushrooms” were released on R1000 bail each in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court this week, provincial police said today. Thomas Rudman was arrested at a farm in Magoebaskloof between Polokwane and Tzaneen on Monday after police confiscated dried mushrooms.
His case was postponed to October 15 for further investigation. An alleged accomplice, local businessman Robin McIntosh, was arrested in Polokwane yesterday. The case against him was postponed to October 31.
Police seized 6,8kg of the illegal mushrooms at McIntosh’s house in the Polokwane. The mushrooms seized at the properties of Rudman and McIntosh have a combined street value of about R310 000. The fungi were destroyed after the arrests. The mushrooms, contained in plastic bags were dried, broken into pieces and preserved in small bottles of honey, apparently to disguise their bitter taste. It was cultivated on the Magoebaskloof farm. Police suspected they were to be sold at night clubs and rave clubs.
The mushrooms contain the prohibited substance psilocybin, which is listed in the drug trafficking act. This substance has a similar effect on the body as the LSD, also causing hallucinations. The arrest came after police confiscated cocaine rocks, ecstasy liquid, dagga, heroin powder and 2kg of mushrooms during a raid at a Johannesburg night club earlier this month.
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