By Enyichukwu Enemanna
At least five suspects, including three Mexicans have been arrested by the police in South Africa after uncovering a multi-million dollar highly addictive crystal meth lab on a remote farm.
The police team had raided the lab located in the northern town of Groblersdal following a tip off about “suspicious activities,” a statement from an elite police unit known as the Hawks said.
The statement added that the lab was operating on an industrial scale, producing psycho-active drugs for both local and international markets.
South Africa is one of the largest meth markets in the world and a transit location for illicit drugs, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
Four men, including two South Africans and two Mexicans appeared before a Groblersdal court in connection with the case on Tuesday but were not allowed to enter plea.
Their hearing has been adjourned till 1 August.
Gonzales Jorge, aged 51, Gutierrez Lopes, 43, Simphiwe Khumalo, 35, and Frederick Botha, 67, were arrested following the raid of the farm last Friday where crystal meth with an estimated street value of 2bn rand (approximately £84m; $108m) were found.
Officers also found chemicals used to manufacture the drug, such as acetone.
The owner of the farm was among those arrested, news agency AFP reported the police as saying.
An additional Mexican suspect – Ruben Vidal Rodriguez – was later arrested on charges of manufacturing, dealing and possession of illicit drugs.
Mr Rodriguez appeared separately in court on Tuesday. He was also not asked to enter a plea and his case will continue on Wednesday.
“What makes this different from other [seizures] is the involvement of Mexican citizens,” Katlego Mogale, national spokesperson for the Hawks, was quoted as saying.
“It means that our task has just become very difficult.”
