Six suspects have been apprehended following the discovery of a crystal-methamphetamine laboratory valued at an astonishing R350 million on a farm in Volksrust, Mpumalanga. The operation, which has sent shockwaves through the local community, underscores the far-reaching implications of drug trafficking and its insidious impact on society.
Authorities moved swiftly after receiving a tip-off regarding a suspicious chemical odour emanating from the farm. According to police spokesperson Fundiswa Maphanga, their investigation led to a thorough search of the premises, unearthing a trove of incriminating evidence: large quantities of precursor chemicals typically used in drug manufacturing, advanced drug-manufacturing equipment, and crystal meth packaged in lunch boxes and buckets and stored in freezers.
The operation also revealed a pellet gun loaded with blank rounds and three live nine-millimetre rounds found in the possession of the farm’s caretaker. The identities of the suspects are particularly noteworthy; five are reportedly from a North American country, while the sixth, serving as the caretaker, has not been further identified. Two additional suspects, believed to be from West African nations, managed to elude capture by fleeing into the nearby bushes.
Following the momentous discovery, the site was secured, and forensic teams were called in to process the scene. The investigation has since been handed over to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (Hawks), with all arrested suspects facing potential charges that include contravening the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act and the Immigration Act.