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South African police have busted a multimillion-dollar methamphetamine lab on a remote farm and arrested five suspects, including three Mexicans.
The elite police unit, known as the Falcons, said in a statement that officers raided the laboratory in the northern town of Groblersdal after receiving intelligence about “suspicious activity”.
The report also stated that the laboratory was operating on an industrial scale, producing the highly addictive drug for local and international markets.
South Africa is one of the world’s largest markets for methamphetamine and a transit point for the illegal drug, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
Four men, two South Africans and two Mexicans, appeared in court in Groblersdal on Tuesday in connection with the case but were not asked to plead guilty. Their next hearing is on August 1.
González Jorge, 51, Gutierrez Lopez, 43, Simphiwe Khumalo, 35, and Frederick Botha, 67, were arrested last Friday after a police search of the farm uncovered methamphetamine with a black market value of R2bn (£84m; $108m).
Police also found chemicals used to make the drug, such as acetone.
Police said the farmer was among those arrested, AFP reported.
Another Mexican suspect, Ruben Vidal Rodriguez, He was later arrested on charges of manufacturing, trafficking and possession of illegal drugs.
Mr. Rodriguez appeared in court alone on Tuesday. He was also not required to enter a plea and his case will continue on Wednesday.
“This seizure is different from other operations because it involves Mexican citizens,” AFP quoted Falcons national spokesman Katelego Mogale as saying.
“This means our task becomes very difficult.”
Since the beginning of the year, the Falcons have busted 10 drug labs and arrested 34 people.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime said in a report last year that South Africa’s location and porous border controls make it an attractive transit point for drugs destined for Asia, North America and Western Europe.
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