The police raided an alleged home-based crack cocaine lab in a well-known residential complex early on August 14.

Ebuka John Beluonwu, a 37-year-old Nigerian national, received a rude awakening when the police came knocking on his door at 03:20 to conduct the raid.

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The provincial police spokesperson, Captain Magonseni Nkosi, said Beluonwu appeared in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court the following day, charged with possession of drugs. He was remanded in custody and is due back in the dock on October 1.

While Nkosi said the seized drugs still needed to be sent to the laboratory for testing and formal identification, a source close to the investigation confirmed the apartment was being used to cook (manufacture) crack cocaine.