Four suspects nabbed for running a clandestine drug lab at a farm in Limpopo remain behind bars and they are due back in court next month.
The Hawks arrested the four suspects, including the farm owner and two Mexican nationals, on Friday.
The accused, Gonzales Jorge, 51, Gutierrez Lopes, 43, Simphiwe Khumalo, 35, and Frederick Botha, 67, were charged with manufacturing, dealing and possession of illicit drugs.
The appeared in the Groblersdal District Court on Monday following their arrest in an intelligence driven operation. This was carried out by members of the Limpopo Serious Organised Crime Investigation (Soci) team assisted by the Limpopo Tactical Response Team, at a farm in Groblersdal where a multimillion-rand clandestine laboratory was discovered.
It is reported that the Hawks in Limpopo received information about suspicious activities at the farm, which was then operationalised and the multi-disciplinary team pounced.
Four structures on the property were searched and large quantities of chemicals used in the manufacturing of illicit drugs, including acetone as well as crystal meth, with an estimated street value of R2 billion were recovered.
The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation has since the beginning of this year uncovered 10 clandestine drug laboratories and made 34 arrests, apart from this recent one.
Hawks national spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said a fifth suspect, 44, was arrested on Monday on charges of manufacturing, dealing and possession of illicit drugs and will appear in court soon.
The case against the four accused was postponed to August 1. The investigation is continuing.
The EFF in Limpopo commended the provincial Hawks for capturing the R2 billion-worth drug manufacturing syndicate operating the biggest drug lab in Sekhukhune, Groblersdal town.
Limpopo EFF spokesperson, Jacob Lebogo, said the arrests will inspire confidence in communities.
The party called on the Hawks to continue having zero tolerance to crime which continues to undermine the social fabric.
“The arrest exposes how farms are used for illegal activities such as drug manufacturing and illegal water catchment schemes which negatively affect our river systems and environment,” said Lebogo.
The province has seen a rise in illicit drug usage with the state playing a minimal role in assisting those addicted to drugs, including failure to support organisations fighting drug abuse, he said.
“The EFF will continue to advocate for consistent resourcing and financing of comprehensive care with clear referral pathways to specialised services and other multi sectoral services, including financial and legal support, safe accommodation, and ensuring accountability and redress.
“The captured criminals must be taken to task until they expose the entire network in particular the kingpins creating permanent problems in our society.
“The continued usage of farms for illegal activities must be reversed by expropriation of land without compensation and ensure such land benefits communities.
“The farm owners must also be held accountable for harbouring criminals on their properties. Either they are complicit to the crime or participants themselves,” said Lebogo.
All seized items must be guarded to avoid misplacement and stealing of such dangerous items, he said.
The police officers in charge of this case must be men and women of integrity hell-bent on upholding the law. Some police officers are part of these criminal syndicates and cannot be trusted with cases as big as this one, he said.
“The EFF will continue with its battle against drug usage and abuse in communities and call on communities to expose drug dealers and criminal elements within the justice system who protect such criminals,” Lebogo said.
The Star