Police added that the Hawks are not ruling out the possibility of further arrests.
Police in South Africa have arrested four people, including two Mexican nationals, after discovering a drug manufacturing laboratory worth millions of dollars on a farm in the country’s north. CNN reported.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, known as the Hawks, raided the property in Groblersdal following reports of suspicious activity, according to a SAPS statement.
While searching four buildings at the farm, police discovered large quantities of chemicals used in the production of illegal drugs, such as acetone and crystal meth, with an estimated street value of 2 billion South African rand ($109.4 million).
The four suspects arrested Friday include the ranch’s owner and two Mexican nationals. Police added that the Hawks are not ruling out the possibility of further arrests.
#sapsHAWKS The Minister of Police, Mr Senzo Mchunu MP, welcomed the outstanding arrests that occurred in the discovery of a R2 billion clandestine drug laboratory in Groblersdal on July 19, 2024 by a joint team of Limpopo Hawks and Limpopo SAPS. #DrugsOffTheStreets ML… pic.twitter.com/9ErFydp0Th
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) July 20, 2024
‘What makes this different from others [seizures] is the involvement of Mexican citizens,” Katlego Mogale, national spokesman for the Hawks, told Reuters, adding: “It means our task has just become very difficult.”
It is unclear whether the seized drugs were intended for the South African market or for export.
The Mexican Foreign Ministry stated that its embassy in South Africa did not receive the necessary consular notification and is in contact with local authorities to gather details about the case and the alleged involvement of Mexicans.
According to police, the suspects will appear in the Groblersdal court on Monday on charges of manufacturing, trafficking and possessing illegal drugs.
In January, police reported that around 131 drug labs had been closed across the country since 2019. During the holidays last year, more than 19,000 people were arrested for drug possession.
So far this year, the Hawks have discovered 10 secret drug labs and arrested 34 people as part of their ongoing war on drugs in the country, the statement said.