Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
The involvement of South African nationals working with international drug syndicates has once again been exposed after the Hawks uncovered a clandestine Multi-Million-Rand drug manufacturing laboratory in Gauteng.
In a statement on Monday, Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said five South African nationals are set to appear before the Krugersdorp Magistrate’s Court following their arrest last week after police discovered a drug lab worth an estimated R100 million on a farm in Hekpoort, near Krugersdorp.
“The laboratory was uncovered through a multi-disciplinary operation led by the South African Narcotics Bureau of the Hawks, working in collaboration with SAPS Head Office Crime Intelligence, the Special Task Force and the West Rand K-9 unit,” said Col Mogale.
“Police discovered large quantities of Mandrax and ecstasy tablets at the suspected manufacturing site. The five suspects, all South African nationals who were found at the premises, will face charges of manufacturing and dealing in illegal drugs.”
The bust points to the growing trend of South Africans working with multinational drug networks to run sophisticated manufacturing operations within the country, with finished products destined for both local and international markets.
Security authorities have in recent months intensified the crackdown on clandestine laboratories, which are often set up on isolated farms and smallholdings to evade detection.
Investigations into the Krugersdorp laboratory are continuing as the police seek to establish the full extent of the syndicate’s operations and its links to broader international drug trafficking networks.
