Seized drugs’ valued at billions

Benoni SAPS cluster media liaison officer Capt Mack Mngomezulu confirmed the value on Monday morning.

He said two to three tons of the drug, which had not fully undergone the manufacturing process, were found at the Elm Road property.

A thick layer of raw drugs was left to dry on a tennis court at the property.

Mngomezulu said the drugs were being dried, before being processed into tablet form.

The drugs which were found on the court were removed by Sunday evening, and taken to a forensic laboratory, in Pretoria.

SAPS forensic teams were still on scene on Monday afternoon, gathering evidence and removing chemicals and machinery.

Police were alerted to the area after the house on the property where the drugs were found, caught alight at around 8.30am on Sunday.

Mngomezulu said the fire may have been caused by an explosion, although he could not confirm it.

A neighbour at the property apparently saw smoke emanating from the house and alerted CMS.

According to Mngomezulu, four people (three men and a woman) ran away from the property when CMS arrived on scene.

The fire brigade was summoned and a Benoni CPF member saw what turned out to be drug manufacturing equipment and alerted police.

Police found the passports of four Lesotho nationals in the house, one woman and three men.

Mngomezulu could not confirm whether these passports belonged to the residents of the home or the people who ran away.

No one has been arrested and the identity of the home owners is not yet known.

Mngomezulu said this is the biggest drug bust on the East Rand this year, so far.

The Organised Crime Unit will investigate the case.

Read the previous article: https://www.citizen.co.za/benoni-city-times/170725/drugs-worth-millions-discovered-plot-morning/