The Swartruggens Magistrate’s Court has postponed until next Friday the case involving 11 suspects arrested during a multi-million-rand drug raid at a farm in Brakspruit near Swartruggens on Wednesday.
The National Prosecuting Authority said the matter was postponed for seven days to allow for interpreters, verification of immigration status and a possible formal bail application.
The accused face charges relating to drug manufacturing, illegal possession of precious metals, illegal possession of hazardous materials and contravention of the Immigration Act. All suspects remain in custody.
The arrests followed an intelligence-driven operation conducted by several law enforcement agencies, during which authorities confiscated a drug laboratory, manufacturing equipment, drugs worth millions of rand and three firearms.
The accused include five Mexican nationals — Fabian Astorga, Jesus Alonso, Medina Astorga, Luis Alberto Ramirez Rios, Jose Andres Medina and Jacquelin Lopez Madrid — as well as two Mozambican nationals, Ismael Afiado Massingue and Lourenco Constantino Cumbane, one Zimbabwean national, Tobias Soyani, and three South African citizens, Tyron John Schutte, Kyle Schutte and Vusi Amos Mkambi.
Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said forensic experts are still processing the crime scene.
“Approximately 481 kilograms of methamphetamine with an estimated street value amounting to millions of rand has thus far been confiscated. It is anticipated that the quantity may increase once the entire scene has been thoroughly processed. The estimated value of the illicit drug laboratory exceeds R1 billion,” said Mogale.
Mogale added that preliminary investigations indicate the laboratory is the fourth drug lab in South Africa allegedly linked to Mexican syndicates.
“At this stage, the owners of the property have not yet been located. However, the owner’s son and other relatives were among those arrested. The owners are currently required for questioning as investigations continue,” he said.
