By Phenyo Selinda
In a significant crackdown on the drug trade, four individuals appeared in the Groblersdal District Court today, 22 July 2024, following a major operation by the Hawks. The suspects, Gonzales Jorge (51), Gutierrez Lopes (43), Simphiwe Khumalo (35), and Frederick Botha (67), were arrested on 19 July 2024 at a clandestine laboratory discovered on a farm in Groblersdal, Limpopo.
Colonel Katlego Mogale, spokesperson for the Hawks, described the operation led by the Limpopo Serious Organised Crime Investigation (SOCI) team, assisted by the Limpopo Tactical Response Team. Following a tip-off about suspicious activities at the farm, the team executed a well-coordinated raid. “Four structures on the property were searched and large quantities of chemicals used in the manufacturing of illicit drugs including acetone, as well as crystal meth with an estimated street value of R2 billion, were recovered,” Colonel Mogale reported.
The arrests are part of a larger crackdown by the Hawks, which, according to Colonel Mogale, has successfully “uncovered ten (10) clandestine drug laboratories and made 34 arrests” since the beginning of the year. The efforts reflect the Hawks’ intensified campaign to dismantle the networks behind the manufacturing and distribution of illegal substances across the region.
Adding to the day’s success, an additional suspect, aged 44, was also arrested under charges of manufacturing, dealing, and possession of illicit drugs and is expected to appear in court soon. Colonel Mogale emphasized the significance of these operations, stating, “The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation has acted swiftly on intelligence to disrupt the illegal drug trade that threatens community safety.”
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