Four suspects aged between 21 and 25 have been arrested after police discovered a suspected drug laboratory at a family residence in Meadowlands, Soweto, Gauteng.
The arrests occurred on Friday, October 16, following an operation involving Gauteng Organised Crime Investigations’ Tracing and Narcotics teams, Police Emergency Services Flexi and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), also known as the Hawks.
According to police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili, the team received information about suspected illicit drug-related activities at the property and conducted surveillance on Thursday evening.
Muridili said further information indicated that the suspects might be in the process of moving suspected drugs, prompting the team to proceed to the premises, where the four suspects were arrested.
Police discovered the suspected drug-manufacturing operation in a room at the back of the family home.
A substantial quantity of pills, suspected to have been manufactured elsewhere, was also found on the premises.
Equipment and chemicals seized
Police said the necessary resources had been mobilised, including the Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management teams, which were processing the scene.
"The equipment and chemicals found at the premises will be seized for further investigation and analysis. A substantial quantity of pills suspected to have been manufactured somewhere else was also found," said Muridili.
She said the case has been handed over to the DPCI’s Serious Organised Crime Investigations unit for further investigation.
Meanwhile, the four suspects are expected to appear in court soon on drug-related charges.
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