Police in South Africa uncovered an industrial-scale meth manufacturing lab and arrested four suspects including two Mexicans. In a statement, the police said on Saturday (July 20) the lab was discovered on a farm in Groblersdal, a small town in Limpopo province.
Officers of the elite Haws (an elite police unit) found large quantities of chemicals used in the manufacturing of illicit drugs including acetone and crystal meth, with an estimated street value of $109.5 million (around 2 billion rand), the police said.
One of the biggest-ever drug seizures
This was one of the biggest-ever drug seizures in South Africa. Hawks spokesperson Katlego Mogale said that what made this seizure different from others was the involvement of Mexican citizens.
“It means that our task has just become very difficult,” Mogale told the news agency Reuters. She added it was not clear whether the suspects were manufacturing drugs to distribute within the country or elsewhere.
The police, meanwhile, said that as the investigation continued, the arrested suspects would make their first court appearance on Monday on charges of manufacturing, dealing, and possession of illicit drugs
South Africa: A major drug transit nation
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), South Africa is a major drug transit country due to its geography and international trade links, and also a growing market for synthetic drugs.
In a report published last year, the UNODC said that Methamphetamine trafficking in particular had been on the rise in Africa.
(With inputs from agencies)
Harshit Sabarwal
Source link : https://www.wionews.com/world/police-in-south-africa-uncover-industrial-scale-meth-lab-arrest-four-suspects-742767
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Publish date : 2024-07-21 05:43:29
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