The police stated in a statement on Saturday that the laboratory was found on a property in Groblersdal, a tiny hamlet in the northeastern province of Limpopo.
South Africa’s northernmost province, Limpopo, shares borders with Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique.
According to the statement, law enforcement officers discovered significant amounts of chemicals, like acetone, used in the production of illegal substances, such as crystal meth, which has a street value of an estimated 2 billion rand ($109.5 million).
The involvement of Mexican citizens, according to Katlego Mogale, national spokeswoman for the Hawks, an elite police team that participated in the operation, “makes this different from other [seizures].”
She said “it means that our task has just become very difficult.”
According to her, it’s unclear if the suspects were producing drugs for domestic or international distribution.
According to the UN Office on narcotics and Crime, South Africa is a key drug transit nation because of its geographic location and connections to other countries. It is also a rising market for synthetic narcotics.
Throughout particular, methamphetamine trafficking is increasing throughout Africa, according to the UN agency’s 2023 World Drug Report.
Methamphetamine is characterized by the UN as a potent and extremely addictive stimulant that affects the central nervous system and can result in an erratic or fast heartbeat.
High dosages of the drug “may result in death from stroke, heart attack, or multiple organ problems caused by overheating,” the US Drug Enforcement Administration cautions.
Acetone is a colorless liquid that is used to make many different things, such as paint and plastic solvents, but it can also be used illegally to make drugs.
According to the police statement, the apprehended suspects will appear in court for the first time on Monday to answer to allegations of making, distributing, and possessing illegal narcotics while the investigation is ongoing.
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