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Chemicals found used at drug manufacturing laboratory in Volkrust, Mpumalanga.
Police are still hunting for two alleged Nigerian nationals believed to be part of an illegal drug manufacturing operation in Volksrust, Mpumalanga.
The clandestine drug lab, which was producing crystal meth worth over R350 million, was shut down by police on Friday following a tip-off from the community.
Four Mexican nationals and one South African have since been arrested.
Mpumalanga Community Safety MEC, Jackie Macie, says it is understood that the two suspects who are on the run were working closely with the Mexican nationals who were manufacturing the drugs.
“The owner of the farm has passed away and the wife is now taking care of the farm, but there is a caretaker, and we have arrested him with four Mexicans. But there were two Nigerians who managed to run away the day before yesterday after they realised that the police are in the place and also want to arrest them,” says Macie.
#sapsMP Mpumalanga #SAPS dismantled a clandestine crystal methamphetamine laboratory worth an estimated R350 million and arresting five foreign nationals on a farm in Volksrust on Friday, 19 September 2025.
Five foreign nationals from a North American country were arrested,… pic.twitter.com/BuNpOVqqjZ
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) September 20, 2025
Furthermore, Mpumalanga police say they are going to be adding more members to their anti-drug task team to ensure that clandestine drug-manufacturing operations are shut in the province.
Two alleged Nigerian nationals who are also believed to be part of the operation managed to flee when police arrived on the scene.
Mpumalanga Acting Police Commissioner, Zeph Mkhwanazi, says, “We are going to intensify and add more members and get more members into this to make sure that we bring it under control. This looks like it was actually put in place in January and with time, we are not sure which month it started to operate, but what we know is that in January, it started and to have it now cracked down it means our operations are having some sort of dividend.”
Video | Reaction to Volksrust drug lab:
