South African authorities uncovered a methamphetamine lab on a farm in Oudehoutkloof, Volksrust, about 150 miles from Johannesburg, seizing drugs worth an estimated $20 million and arresting five North American nationals, officials announced Saturday.
The South African Police Service said they received a tip-off about suspicious activities on the farm, with the caller reporting “a strange chemical smell emanating from the premises.”
What police found on the farm
During the search, officers discovered:
-
precursor chemicals for drug production
-
Manufacturing equipment
-
A pellet gun loaded with blanks
-
Three live 9mm rounds in the possession of the farm’s caretaker
Police also found crystal meth packed in buckets and lunchboxes, stored inside freezers.
Photos released on social media show multiple containers filled with narcotics and large-scale machinery used for production.
Suspects arrested
Five North Americans tried to flee on foot but were caught and taken into custody. Police said they were in South Africa illegally and face drug- and immigration-related charges.
The farm caretaker, a South African citizen, was also arrested and charged with possession of ammunition.
In total, six suspects are now in custody and expected to appear in court soon.
Two additional suspects, believed to be from West African nations, escaped into nearby bushes and remain at large.
Police response
The meth lab is being dismantled, according to officials.
Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, acting provincial commissioner of the South African Police Service, praised the bust:
“This operation is a step in the right direction to rid the streets of Mpumalanga of all types of drugs.”
Meth trade in South Africa
South Africa remains one of the largest crystal meth consumer markets in the world.
In 2024, police found another large meth lab on a remote farm, seizing $100 million worth of precursor chemicals and drugs. That raid led to the arrest of two South Africans and three Mexican nationals.
Leave a Reply