Massive drug busts in Gauteng, KZN
Police Minister Bheki Cele and national commissioner Khehla Sithole have lauded two massive drug busts in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal on Friday.
Seven suspects were arrested in KwaZulu-Natal after police discovered a drug laboratory in Sprngfield Park, near central Durban.
Four suspects were arrested during the raid, which also led to the discovery of mandrax and heroine with a street value of R50 million.
Three other suspects were later arrested in Port Shepstone.
The police’s Vishnu Naidoo says the aim is to prevent the drugs from entering communities, as opposed to recovering small quantities from dealers within the community.
"We continue to look forward to information from communities about such drug dealings and drug manufacturing.”
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In a second drug bust, four suspects were arrested at a house in Braamfischerville, Soweto on Friday.
Several law enforcement agencies, including the police’s drug unit and the Hawks, swooped on the home and discovered an undercover laboratory used to produce mandrax.
Gauteng police spokesperson Lloyd Ramovha says a large amount of mandrax tablets and equipment, which is believed to be worth millions of rands, were seized during the raid.
The suspects will appear at the Roodepoort Magistrates Court on Monday on charges of manufacturing and dealing in drugs.
"Investigations continue in this case and more arrests have not been ruled out," Ramovha says.