KEY POINTS
- Six suspects, believed to be Mozambican nationals, were arrested in Standerton after police raided a drug lab and a nearby farm, seizing chemicals and equipment worth R20 million.
- A BMW X5 was confiscated, and forensic teams are analyzing the substances to determine the exact nature of the drugs being produced.
- The bust follows increased police focus on drug-related crimes in the region, with authorities vowing to intensify operations against narcotics syndicates.
In a major crackdown on drug manufacturing in Mpumalanga, six suspects—believed to be Mozambican nationals—were arrested during a police raid on a suspected narcotics laboratory in Standerton.
The operation in Standerton, led by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit, uncovered a large-scale drug production facility with chemicals and equipment valued at an estimated R20 million.
Acting on intelligence in Standerton, law enforcement officers stormed a warehouse in an industrial area on Friday, where they found a stash of chemicals used in drug manufacturing.
“Three suspects were arrested at the lab, while a fourth, believed to be their employer, was later apprehended,” police said in a statement.
Farm raid in Standerton reveals additional drug production site
Sowetanlive reports that further investigations led authorities to a nearby farm in Standerton, where more chemicals and machinery allegedly used in its manufacturing were discovered. Two additional suspects were taken into custody at the scene.
“The estimated value of the recovered substances and machinery is R20 million, though the exact figure will be confirmed after forensic analysis,” police added. A BMW X5 belonging to one of the suspects was also seized for further investigation.
Forensic experts in Standerton were deployed to the scene to analyze the substances, while police confirmed that the suspects would face charges related to drug manufacturing and possession.
Crackdown follows surge in local drug crimes
Maj-Gen Nico Gerber, Mpumalanga’s head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, praised the collaborative effort between the Hawks, Crime Intelligence, and K9 units. “There have been numerous drug-related cases in Standerton, and this operation demonstrates our commitment to dismantling these networks,” he said.
The bust comes amid growing concerns over the rise of clandestine drug labs in South Africa. Last month, a similar lab was uncovered in Paarl, while police recently reported destroying R5.2 billion worth of narcotics over the past three years.
Community leaders in Standerton have welcomed the arrests, calling for stricter enforcement to curb related crimes that have plagued the area.
