Five North American nationals arrested in R350 million crystal meth operation in Mpumalanga
Drug-manufacturing equipment and precursor chemicals recovered during the raid.
Image: SAPS
Mpumalanga police have dismantled a clandestine crystal methamphetamine laboratory worth an estimated R350 million and arrested five foreign nationals from North America on a farm in Volksrust.
Police confirmed that the arrests were made on Thursday, September 19, during a joint operation under Operation Shanela 2.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdhluli said officers acted on a tip-off about suspicious activities at a farm in Oudehoutkloof.
“The informant reported a strange chemical smell emanating from the premises, which raised suspicions of illicit drug manufacturing,” said Mdhluli.
According to the police, when law enforcement arrived, the gates were locked and some suspects tried to flee.
“The suspects, on noticing police, attempted to flee on foot but were quickly apprehended,” Mdhluli confirmed.
Five foreign nationals from a North American country were arrested. Two other suspects believed to be from West Africa escaped into nearby bushes and are still at large.
A search of the farm uncovered a large-scale drug operation.
Officers seized precursor chemicals, drug-manufacturing equipment, and crystal meth valued at R350 million, which was packaged in lunch boxes and buckets hidden inside freezers. Police also found a pellet gun loaded with blanks, along with three live 9mm rounds in the possession of the farm caretaker.
“The premises were secured, and Forensics was called in to process the scene, which was handed over to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (Hawks),” Mdhluli said.
Investigations revealed that the arrested foreign nationals were in South Africa illegally. They face charges under the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act as well as the Immigration Act.
The South African farm caretaker is also facing possible charges for possession of ammunition.
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