Members of the Pretoria Flying Squad pounced on the premises on December 5 and demanded to search the place for drugs.
The police were following up on information which linked the company to drug dealing.
PHS is tasked with the guarding and safekeeping of assets and items of high value, to which high risk is linked.
Some of their clients are pharmaceutical manufacturers who store high value chemical ingredients and it’s such substances that brought the police to their premises.
After a long stand-off between the two parties it was established that the company had permission to have the substance for safekeeping.
A member of the Pretoria Flying Squad ,Const Abram Manamela, said they reacted because the chemical can be used to produce illegal, mind-altering substances if it lands in the wrong hands.
Manamela said no one was arrested after a permit to keep the substance was produced.
However, earlier in the day, PHS COPS’ chief executive officer, Lionel Marks, and Lionel Snyman, from the Ddepartment of Health, were handcuffed by the police.
“They entered our premises in military style breach and locked down the company until late night,” said Marks.
The police initially had no search warrant and had to apply for an urgent one.
“Although, amongst other things, their conduct and procedure remain matters wherein we reserve our right to seek legal remedy, we wish to confirm that not a single negative could be brought against us by them,” said Marks.
He added that he would like to thank members of the CPF and the Benoni police, who stood by him during the ordeal.
“The fact that I had their support affirms my belief that being part of a collective is the only way to overcome obstacles,” said Marks.
He stressed that his company has the highest level of integrity and standards, which they constantly strive to maintain.
“We have been fully compliant since 1982,” he said.
