‘Cat’ kitchen bust in Richards Bay

A suspected arboretum drug manufacturing kitchen and brothel was busted in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, leading to the recovery of ‘Cat’ (Methacathinone) with a street value of about R15 000.

Following a tip-off, Northern Region Protection Services, the Meerensee CPF, Crime Intelligence Gathering and the Empangeni Flying Squad mobilised an impromptu buy-bust, which led to the arrest of one local resident and one Nigerian national on the weekend, Zululand Observer reported.

Several sex workers were found on the premises and R10 000 in cash was recovered.

Cat is a poisonous concoction of substances such as ephedrine, acetone, paint solvents and sulphuric acid and is sold for R250 to R300 per gram on the streets.

The confiscated powder has been forwarded for forensic analysis to confirm the chemical composition.

The bust comes in the wake of renewed efforts by police and civilian crime fighters to curb the scourge of drugs flooding the city.

Domestic violence, abuse, human trafficking and property crimes are directly linked to substance abuse.

The suspects will appear in Richards Bay District Court today.

– Caxton News Service

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