Two arrested for operating a R20mil steroids laboratory
Two men were on Wednesday arrested for operating a multimillion steroids laboratory at a security complex in Silver Lakes.
Two alleged drug manufacturers were on Wednesday arrested for operating a multimillion steroids laboratory at a security complex in Silver Lakes.
According to Boschkop police spokesperson Captain Marissa van der Merwe, a 30-year-old Egyptian and 21-year-old South African were found in the act of packaging and manufacturing steroids at the Annipad security complex in Silver Lakes Avenue when they were arrested by the Boschkop police.
According to Hawks spokesperson Captain Paul Ramaloko, the security officers at the complex became suspicious when they discovered a foul smell coming from a lock-up garage allocated to an apartment rented by the suspects. The Boschkop police alerted the Hawks and the Department of Health were also summoned to the crime scene for further investigation.
“Upon searching the garage and the apartment, various illegal drugs, drugs manufacturing chemicals and packaging equipment valued at R20 million were seized,” Ramaloko said.
It is believed that the men are part of a bigger drug syndicate with international networks.
The investigations were taken up by the Pretoria organised crime unit of the Hawks and the suspects will appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Monday on charges of fraud and contravention of the Medicine and Health Acts.
“We suspect this laboratory is supplied by a well organised syndicate with a network of some sort,” head of the Hawks in Gauteng Major General Shadrack Sibiya said. “This property is posing a serious health risk to its neighbours in this complex.”
“Our team will work around the clock to identify the supplier to this laboratory,” General Sibiya added.
