Another suspected role player in the huge drug manufacturing ring uncovered in Standerton last year has been arrested.

The Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation based in Secunda has arrested a 53-year-old Durban woman, Sandra Pillay, in connection with the ongoing Standerton drug laboratory investigation.

Pillay handed herself over to the Standerton police on May 6, following an intensive investigation by the Hawks.

The arrest follows the earlier discovery of a clandestine drug laboratory in Standerton, where authorities arrested two South African nationals and five Mozambican nationals.

During the operation, investigators also seized 11 vehicles, including seven luxury vehicles, and more than R3m in cash concealed in the boot of one of the luxury vehicles.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi, provincial spokesperson for the Hawks in Mpumalanga, investigations revealed that Pillay’s vehicle was among the luxury vehicles recovered at one of the premises allegedly used to produce final drug products.

The vehicle was allegedly found containing more than R3m in cash concealed in the boot. Pillay was charged and appeared before the Standerton Magistrate’s Court, where she was granted bail of R10 000.

She is expected to appear again before the Standerton Magistrate’s Court on June 23, where she will join her co-accused.

The Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in Mpumalanga, Major General Nico Gerber, commended the investigating team for their unwavering commitment and dedication in ensuring that all individuals linked to illegal drug manufacturing and trafficking are brought to justice.

The Standerton Advertiser wrote an in-depth story in May last year about this massive drug operation happening right under the noses of the residents in Standerton.

We visited the three main sites and were also granted exclusive access, behind the police barrier tape, to the labs on the farm at Rooikoppen.

Within the first week of April 2025, the Hawks busted a warehouse where high volumes of chemicals were stored, a premises on a farm used for the sole purpose of manufacturing drugs and a house in Flora Park where numerous vehicles, money and other items were confiscated.

According to Nkosi, chemicals and equipment used in the manufacturing of drugs such as Mandrax, with a value of about R48m, were seized.

ALSO READ: Police find underground drug lab in Standerton

The police also confiscated 11 vehicles, ranging from high-performance luxury vehicles to a truck and millions of Rand in cash. Six Mozambican nationals and two South Africans were arrested during the raids.

They are Cardoso Missuque (36), Mandlati Beto (25), Antonio Maciya (19), Virginia Macamo (51), Justino Missuque (60) and Tito Matu (19) from Mozambique and Derick Govis (24) and Elias Mahlangu (38) from South Africa. A third South African, Elton Oliphant (44), later handed himself over to the police.

The case against Govis was provisionally withdrawn, meaning charges against him have been temporarily put on hold or set aside, but the case is not necessarily closed.

Scene 1: The warehouse
The warehouse in the Standerton industrial area, where several chemicals used in the manufacturing of drugs were stored, was raided on April 4, 2025.

The police arrested three Mozambicans at the warehouse. A fourth Mozambican, described as the “recruiter”, was then arrested.

Scene 2: The farm
The team advanced to a farm in Rooikoppen on the same day, April 4, 2025. Here, they discovered large volumes of chemicals and machinery believed to be used in the manufacture of drugs.

This included a pressing machine and 35 buckets filled with powder ready to be pressed into tablets. Another two Mozambicans were arrested on the spot.

The machinery confiscated included numerous industrial ovens, grinders, cooking vessels and pressing machines, stainless steel drums and gas cylinders.

Scene 3: The house
Govis and Mahlangu were arrested on April 8, 2025, at 18 Mahonie Street in Flora Park, Standerton. Oliphant turned himself in the next day.

The police confiscated money, cellphones, electronics, and vehicles from this scene.

Return to scene 2: The hidden drug lab
A laboratory underneath the original crime scene was discovered on May 14, 2025. Before the cleaning process could commence, the Hawks received information that an entrance to the underground laboratory was underneath one of the containers.

Nkosi said machinery believed to be used in the illegal manufacturing of drugs, drums, and plastic containers filled with substances, was recovered here. As huge as this operation may sound, this is just the tip of the iceberg.

“We believe there is a syndicate at play with bigger fish to catch. We are slowly but surely moving in,” said Nkosi.

ALSO READ: Police uncover huge drug lab in Volksrust with Crystal Meth worth R350 million

The Mozambican nationals abandoned their bail application in Standerton Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, May 21. Cardoso Missuque (36), Mandlati Beto (25), Antonio Maciya (19), Virginia Macamo (51), Justino Missuque (60) and Tito Matu (19) briefly appeared before Magistrate Sabelo Thembe in the A court.

Other busts with possible connections
Drugs worth about R2m were seized in Sakhile on August 8, 2025.

In a neighbouring town, Volksrust, the police uncovered a multi-million rand clandestine drug lab at Oudehoutkloof farm on September 19, 2025. A South African and five Mexican nationals were involved in the operation.