R20m Sandton drug lab busted
An estimated R20 million worth of suspected methaqualone, which is used for the production of Mandrax, was discovered at a property in Sandhurst, north of Johannesburg, on Thursday night.
Spokesperson for the Hawks, Robert Netshiunda, said the area had been monitored for few months on suspicion that a syndicate was involved in the alleged drug lab, Sandton Chronicle reported.
A 28-year-old man was arrested on the property, while another suspect fled the scene. The man was charged with manufacturing and distributing illegal substances. A firearm was also recovered on the scene.
The Hawks believe the syndicate operates between Dobsonville in Soweto, Pretoria and Johannesburg. It is alleged the product was set to be transported to Cape Town for sale.
Methaqualone was found in both the house and cottage on the property while stained pillow cases were found in the courtyard. Gas masks were also found on the property.
These were allegedly used to filter the liquid methaqualone to form a powder which could later be pressed into pills.
In the cottage, there was a soundproofed room where a grinder and press were found which, it is believed, were used to compress the methaqualone powder into pills.
The arrested suspect is set to appear in the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court, in Cape Town, on 21 September
– Caxton News Service
Read original story on sandtonchronicle.co.za
