South African police arrested five suspects, including three Mexicans, after uncovering a multi-million dollar crystal meth lab on a remote farm in Groblersdal. Acting on a tip-off, the elite Hawks unit found the lab producing meth on an industrial scale for local and international markets.
On Tuesday, four men—two South Africans and two Mexicans—appeared in court but did not enter a plea. Their next hearing is on August 1. The arrested individuals are Gonzales Jorge, 51, Gutierrez Lopes, 43, Simphiwe Khumalo, 35, and Frederick Botha, 67. A search of the farm last Friday uncovered crystal meth worth an estimated 2 billion rand ($108 million) and chemicals used in its production.
An additional Mexican suspect, Ruben Vidal Rodriguez, was arrested separately on charges of manufacturing, dealing, and possession of illicit drugs. He appeared in court on Tuesday, with his case continuing on Wednesday.
The Hawks have discovered 10 drug labs and made 34 arrests this year. South Africa’s location and porous borders make it a key transit point for drugs bound for Asia, North America, and Western Europe, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.