CAPE TOWN: South African police have arrested around four people, including two Mexican citizens following discovering a multimillion-dollar drug manufacturing lab on a farm in the country’s north, western media reported.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, raided the property in Groblersdal after reports of suspicious activity, SAPS said in a statement. Upon searching four areas on the farm, police recovered large quantities of chemicals used in the production of illegal drugs, such as acetone and crystal meth, with an assessed street value of $109.4 million.
The suspects arrested on Friday include the farm owner and two Mexican citizens. Police said that the officials are not ruling out the possibility of further arrests in the case.
According to media reports, it is unclear whether the seized drugs were meant for export or the South African market. The Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that its embassy in South Africa is in contact with local officials to gather details regarding the case.
In January, police also reported that about 131 drug labs had been shut down across South Africa since 2019. So far this year, the authorities have discovered ten secret drug labs and apprehended around 34 people as part of their current war on drugs in the country, the statement further said.
