PRETORIA – A multimillion-rand clandestine laboratory together with a storage facility, was dismantled on Wednesday in Mpumalanga and Soweto respectively.
This follows two Hawks project driven operations in the early hours of the morning where members raided simultaneously a clandestine laboratory in Breten and a Mandrax chemical storage facility in Diepkloof.
The Hawks’ South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau (SANEB) were assisted by the special Taskforce, Crime intelligence and the Forensic Science Laboratory experts at both crime scenes.
A 61-year-old elderly woman was arrested in Diepkloof, Soweto, after 62 bags of an acidic substance believed to be used for the manufacturing of drugs. She subsequently appeared at the Protea Magistrate’s Court and the case was remanded to 23 August pending further investigation whilst she remains in custody.
Meanwhile, in Mpumalanga, seven suspects aged between 29 and 69 were arrested for allegedly operating a fully functional clandestine drug laboratory.
Drug manufacturing equipment and a haul of Mandrax tablets with an estimated street value of over R210 million were seized.
The seven suspects are expected to appear at the Ermelo Magistrates on Thursday.
The National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya has welcomed the Narcotics seizures, the arrests and the dismantling of the drug laboratories.