South African police arrested four individuals, including two Mexican nationals, after discovering a multimillion-dollar drug lab on a farm in the northern part of the country.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, known as Hawks, conducted a raid in Groblersdal following a tip-off about suspicious activities.
In the search of four structures on the property, authorities found significant quantities of chemicals used to produce illicit drugs, such as acetone and crystal meth, with an estimated street value of 2 billion South African rand ($109.4 million).
The detained suspects include the farm owner and two Mexican nationals. The Hawks have indicated that more arrests may follow.
“What makes this different from other [seizures] is the involvement of Mexican citizens,” said Katlego Mogale, the national spokesperson for the Hawks, adding that this development complicates their task.
It remains unclear if the seized drugs were intended for the South African market or for international distribution. The Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that its embassy in South Africa had not received consular notification and is in contact with local authorities to obtain details about the case and the Mexican nationals involved.
The suspects are scheduled to appear in Groblersdal Magistrate’s court on Monday, facing charges of manufacturing, dealing, and possessing illicit drugs.
Since January, police have shut down around 131 drug labs nationwide and arrested over 19,000 individuals for drug possession during the festive season last year. This year alone, the Hawks have discovered 10 secret drug labs and arrested 34 people as part of their ongoing anti-drug efforts.
A 2021 report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime suggested that South Africa could become one of the “largest meth consumer markets in the world.”
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) last year described South Africa as an “attractive drug transit country,” citing its porous borders, geographic location, and international trade links.
