Statement for the Minister of Police, Mr Senzo Mchunu, on the clandestine drug labs discovered in Standerton, Mpumalanga

Standerton Mpumalanga

MEC: Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Mr Jackie Macie,
Gert Sibande District Mayor, Cllr Walter Mngomezulu,
Mayor of the Lekwa Local Municipality, Cllr Sfiso Mngemezulu,
Speaker of the Lekwa Local Municipality, Mr Dumisani Msibi,
National Commissioner of Police, General Masemola,
National Head of the DPCI, (Dr/Adv) Lt. General Lebeya,
Divisional Commissioner, Lt. General Senthumule,
Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major- General (Dr) Mkhwanazi,
Provincial Head of the DPCI, Major-General Gerber,
SAPS officials,
 

Members of the Standerton Community –good afternoon to you all. We are here today, following an operation which was carried out by the team comprising amongst others, the DPCI Secunda, Standerton K9, Standerton Crime Intelligence and private law enforcement. I must mention that this operation dates back to 2024.

The crime intelligence driven operation, which came as a result of a complaint of suspicious activity, commenced on the 4th of April. A search warrant was obtained and large quantities of liquid chemicals in drums, powder chemicals in sacks, machinery and equipment were found. It was confirmed that the building was used as a storage facility for illicit drug producing material.

Three Mozambican nationals found at the scene were arrested; a fourth suspect (Mozambican national), managing the place was subsequently located and arrested. All these individuals are illegal immigrants.

Three vehicles were seized.

Further investigation led us to a farm, where a clandestine drug lab was discovered, and a Mozambican couple was arrested – parents to one of the suspects arrested prior. Again, these individuals do not have the requisite papers to be in South Africa – they too are illegal immigrants.

The combined value of items found was around R 20 million.

All six suspects had their first appearance in the Standerton Magistrate court on Monday 07 April 2025.

On Monday, 7th of April 2025, intelligence about two additional laboratories in the area was received. Search warrants were applied for and executed on the 8th of April 2025.

The Investigation team comprising of DPCI Secunda, SANEB head office, Standerton K9, Standerton Crime Intelligence, and Private Security visited a farm and discovered it was empty and then proceeded to a residential address.

The following items were found at the house:

– tablet pressing machine

– disassembled machine worth over R2 million

– a petrol generator

– 20 litre buckets full of finished powder products valued at over R28 million.

Two South African males (African) and(White) were arrested. A third suspect, a South African citizen, handed himself in. The three suspects appeared in the Standerton Magistrates Court on the 10th of April 2025.

Several luxury vehicles were seized, including a Mercedes Benz. An amount of R 3 689 200.00 was found in the boot of the Mercedes Benz. A white Isuzu van was found at another address and is in police custody.

All suspects have since appeared in the Standerton Magistrate’s Court; one suspect (South African) has been released but investigations are still underway. The 8 suspects who are in custody will appear again for a formal bail hearing on the 25th of April 2025.

This whole operation is an indication that we need to increase our law enforcement capacity in order to achieve such results and more. This is one aspect which we as the SAPS are focused on.

The spaces where this operation was carried out (industrial and residential areas) are indicative that municipalities have to rise to the occasion and be aware of the activities which take place in relation to the spaces they rent out.

We know that there are illegal activities that unfold at Taxi and Bus ranks – there are people who are doing business in these ranks, and therefore we need to have regular raids – this isba call we are making to the municipalities, and to other law enforcement agencies.

We have prioritised tackling drug trade – we are looking at dismantling the entire value chain.

Since August 2024, the SAPS have uncovered several clandestine drug laboratories, leading to significant seizures of illicit substances and manufacturing equipment.

Notable discoveries include:

· July, 2024: In Groblersdal, Limpopo, 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.

· November 27, 2024: A drug laboratory valued at R100 million was dismantled in Rietfontein, Tshwane, resulting in the arrest of a 39-year-old Mexican national.

· December 20, 2024: In Kibler Park, Johannesburg, a drug bust valued at R4.5 million was executed, uncovering machines used for drug production, though no suspects were found at the scene.

· October 1, 2024: Limpopo police discovered a drug lab in Makotse village, Lebowakgomo, seizing mandrax valued at R4 million and arresting three suspects aged between 25 and 33.

· March 14, 2025: A hidden drug lab was uncovered in Vanderbijlpark, with illicit drugs and manufacturing equipment valued at over a million rand seized, leading to the arrest of a 46-year-old suspect.

The total estimated street value of the 800 kilograms of drugs that were destroyed on 7 March 2025 is in excess of R340 million.

About a year ago, drugs worth R550 million were destroyed. In three years, various types of drugs worth R5.2 billion have been destroyed.

As the SAPS, we have a constitutional duty to ensure that all South Africans are and feel safe. Drugs have a negative impact on our communities. They have an impact on the crime levels, they destroy young lives and the health of those who consume them.

When you look at the individuals arrested during this operation, and other ones we have conducted, we note that whilst there are South African nationals involved, the majority are foreign nationals – illegal immigrants at that. They do not have the authority to be in our country and yet they are conducting illegal activities. We need to adopt a consistent focus on illegal immigrants as we work towards securing our borders and protecting our citizens.

We will be convening a meeting as the JCPS cluster later this month; the focus of this meeting will be to concretise measures aimed at securing our borders.

We commend all the various role players who were involved in this operation. We commend the team on the success of this operation and we commend them for their thorough work. We call on communities to work with the police and to report suspicious activities – the fight against requires all hands on deck.