By Johnathan Paoli
A joint operation by the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) has uncovered a suspected multi-million-rand drug manufacturing laboratory at a farm outside Krugersdorp, Gauteng.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said quantities of Mandrax and ecstasy tablets were found at the property and five South African nationals were arrested.
A multidisciplinary law enforcement team raided the heavily secured property on Thursday morning following a tip-off.
The premises were surrounded by barbed wire and equipped with CCTV cameras at entry points, while the main gate was covered with black mesh.
Police also seized two press machines believed to have been used to manufacture drugs. Their combined value was estimated at about R100 million.
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Gauteng police commissioner Lieutenant-General Tommy Mthombeni confirmed that the property owner had been located and would face criminal charges.
It was not immediately clear whether the property had been rented to the occupants or whether the owner was directly linked to the suspected drug-manufacturing operation.
Police are investigating the ownership and use of the property, as well as whether the suspects are linked to other drug-manufacturing laboratories uncovered in the province.
Investigators will also establish whether the Krugersdorp laboratory formed part of a wider organised criminal network involved in the production and distribution of synthetic drugs.
Police have not disclosed the quantity of drugs seized or the identities of the five suspects.
Further charges could follow once investigators have completed their assessment of the premises and established the alleged role of each suspect.
The scene remained active on Thursday as police and forensic teams continued their investigations.
The bust follows another suspected multi-million-rand drug manufacturing laboratory raid at a plot in Scheerpoort, near Hartbeespoort Dam, North West, on Tuesday.
Four suspects were arrested and four firearms, including a rifle and three handguns, were seized during the intelligence-driven operation.
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Police said the operation followed information received by Hartbeespoort Dam SAPS Crime Prevention members about suspected illegal activities at the property.
The information was shared with Brits Crime Intelligence and the Hartbeespoort Dam K9 unit for further intelligence gathering and verification.
