Police detect drug lab in Hammanskraal and arrest 3 suspects.

Yesterday, members from the SAPS Tshwane North Crime Intelligence and the Soshanguve K9 Units detected the well-established drug laboratory in a farm house in the Vasfontein area of Hammanskraal just outside the capital city, Pretoria.

An array of steroids in the form of tablets for oral intake and liquid intended to be consumed intravenously was being manufactured on this farm.

A 55-year-old qualified pharmacist, his 52-year-old life partner and a 38-year-old employee were arrested on the scene.

The National Commissioner of Police, speaking from the crime scene this morning said, “It goes directly against Government’s initiatives for rural developments when a property intended for farming is used to produce illicit substances”.

This seems to be a growing modus operandi after also detecting a similar multi-million rand mandrax laboratory in Harding a few months ago. “I have tasked the investigation team to engage the Asset Forfieture Unit in an effort to seize all property to the State in terms of the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA)”, added General Sitole.