Newcastle ‘drug den’ farm seized
Asset Forfeiture Unit seizes farm under investigation since 2019
A FARM in Newcastle, believed to have been the base for a drug laboratory, has been seized by the KZN Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) after receiving the order from the Pietermaritzburg High Court.
This follows a preservation order which was served in May.
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The R1.2-million, 132 hectare Tigerkloof Farm in Ingogo area near Newcastle has been under investigation since 2019 after suspicious activity was reported by an informer to the Directorate for Priority Investigation (Hawks).
During a search operation in August 2019, members from the SAPS Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) confirmed that items found on the farm were similar to those found at the scene of a clandestine drug lab.
KZN National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said the exhibits were taken to the SAPS Pretoria FSL for chemical analysis and 25kg of methamphetamine was found in some of the exhibits that were chemically analysed.
“Based on the evidence found at the site, the State alleges that there are reasonable grounds to believe Tigerkloof Farm was an instrumentality of an offence listed in Schedule 1 of the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act; in this instance, the manufacture, supply, and possession of drugs and drug dealing activity,” said Ramkisson-Kara.
“On the execution of the search warrant, it was not possible to determine who was responsible for the manufacturing of the drugs, therefore none of the persons found at Tigerkloof Farm were charged with any criminal offence.
“The forfeiture order was obtained by State Advocate Nazreena Sayed. The farm will remain in the custody of the curator, who will be responsible for the sale thereof. The monies will be deposited into the Criminal Assets Recovery Account (CARA) for use in law enforcement and crime fighting initiatives,” concluded Ramkisson-Kara.
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