Another breakthrough find in R85-million drug bust

POLICE have made another breakthrough arrest following the arrest of Durban club owner, Gregory Lyris (45), and Bulgarian national, Valari Nikolov (41) last Tuesday.

They were arrested with ecstasy tablets worth more than R85-million at the Middleburg Toll Plaza.

Police said the next morning they raided a Westville home and arrested the homeowner, Gareth John Brissett (40) and two other men, Sakhile Dlamini (28) and John Mapumulu (32) for possession of precursor chemicals used to manufacture drugs.

Late on Monday afternoon (10 November), after follow-up investigations, a SAPS team uncovered a micro warehouse, believed to be in Lilian Ngoyi (Stamford Hill) Road, being used for what appears to be a clandestine drug laboratory with multiple machines, drums of precursor chemicals and an undisclosed amount of cash.

The team further established that the warehouse was being leased by one of the five accused that were arrested last week. Police said further investigations are underway, primarily to determine to what extent all of the accused may be linked with this warehouse.

“The precursor chemicals found in the warehouse were similar to those found in the Westville house. These chemicals can also be used to manufacture ecstasy tablets,” said Lieutenant General Solomon Makgale.

The five men are still in police custody and they are expected to make their second appearance in court this Thursday and Friday respectively.