Spanish interpreter required after five Mexicans and South African nabbed in multimillion-rand drug lab bust
Police raided a clandestine drug lab at a farm near Volksrust, arresting five Mexican nationals and a South African man.
Image: Hawks
Six suspects — including five Mexican nationals and a South African — have appeared before the Volksrust Magistrate’s Court following the dramatic discovery of a multimillion-rand clandestine drug laboratory on a farm in Mpumalanga.
The suspects, identified as Isabel Antonio Quintero Corrales (36), Hector Manuel Valenzuela Ontiveros (36), Luis Alberto Osorio Viscarra (31), Jose Omar Molina Jimenez (36), Nicanor Molina Jimenez (48), and Bafana Samson Magubane (61), were arrested during a police raid at Ousehoutklood farm outside Volksrust.
Police swooped in after a whistle-blower reported a foul chemical smell in the area. On arrival, officers discovered a fully operational drug laboratory containing chemicals, crystal meth, and sophisticated manufacturing equipment.
Magubane was also found in possession of three 9mm live rounds but was unable to produce a firearm licence. He now faces an additional charge under the Firearms Control Act.
According to authorities, the five Mexican nationals were carrying travel documents which are now under scrutiny. The Department of Home Affairs will be roped in to verify their legality.
The case has been postponed to Friday, 26 September 2025, to allow for the services of a Spanish interpreter.
Possible cartel links under probe
The Hawks’ Secunda-based Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit has taken over the probe, with detectives now investigating potential international cartel links.
The bust comes just months after a similar clandestine laboratory was uncovered in Standerton, less than 100km away, where equipment, chemicals, and drugs worth more than R50 million were seized.
Hawks provincial head in Mpumalanga, Major General Nico Gerber, hailed the community’s role in helping to crack the case. “Together, we can do more in squeezing the space for drug syndicates. The Hawks have taken over investigation and will investigate the links and involvement of the Mexican nationals arrested,” he said.
jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za
IOL News