Police find underground drug lab in Standerton
Police uncovered another drug lab in Rooikoppen farm, Standerton, today, May 14.
This comes just over a month after two clandestine laboratories in Mahonie Street and Rooikoppen farm, as well as a warehouse with chemicals believed to be used in manufacturing of drugs were found.
According to the Mpumalanga spokesman for the Hawks, Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi, these three sites were all active crime scenes until the service of the cleaning company was appointed through the assistance of the Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation, Hawks Supply Chain Management and Standerton SAPS to clean and purify the areas.
'The Hawks Secunda based Serious Organised Crime Investigation received information before the cleaning process could commence that underneath one of the containers, there was an entrance to the underground laboratory.
'The Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation followed up the clues and identified the underground entrance.'
Nkosi said machinery believed to be used in the illegal manufacturing of drugs, drums, and plastic containers filled with substances were recovered.
The Hawks can not confirm the value of the recovered equipment and chemicals pending further investigation.
'Currently, the scene is under police guard to allow the Forensic Science Laboratory (Chemistry) to analyse the recovered machinery and substances,' said Nkosi.
Two South African nationals and six Mozambican nationals are still behind bars following their arrest on the first two recoveries.
Eleven vehicles, including high-performance luxury vehicles and millions of Rands, were seized in April.
The Mpumalanga Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Nico Gerber, applauded members for following up on the information and uncovering further drug consignments. The Hawks will leave no stone uncovered to dismantle the enterprise and the associated structures.
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
TimesLIVE
5 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Illicit financial flows are derailing Africa's future
Illicit financial flows (IFFs) continue to undermine the future of Africa, hampering the ability of governments to adequately fund education, healthcare and development projects essential for lifting people out of poverty and fostering sustainable economic growth. As business leaders, politicians, academics and citizens, we cannot sit back. We must help curb the illegal flow of money out of our country through a cohesive effort by all stakeholders, both local and international, to ensure safeguards are put in place, laws are harmonised, and all enforcement agencies work together to address the problem. At the same time, we must not do anything that will deter investment. Ahead of G20 summit in Johannesburg in November, as well precursor meetings — such as the G20 finance ministers' and central bank governors' meeting and the T20 midterm conference held this month — we must formulate proposals that integrate the perspectives of public and private sector institutions, nonprofit organisations, think-tanks and universities. Together we can make valuable policy recommendations, such as using AI to turn vast amounts of data into information for developing strategic interventions. Working alongside each other, we can identify gaps in current legal frameworks and areas where greater co-operation is required. We must seek ways to stem illicit money flows. When individuals or companies evade their tax obligations, deliberately falsify import or export documents, or misappropriate funds intended for development projects, they are not committing victimless crimes. These outflows not only weaken our reputation in the eyes of the international markets, but also make it harder for the government to raise capital at manageable interest rates. We already owe too much: the National Treasury predicts that debt on our national balance sheet will be 77% of GDP this year. IFFs directly undermine economic growth, costing the South African economy the equivalent of almost 5% of annual collected tax revenue — losses of about R92.5bn. On the African continent, the numbers are more alarming, with between $50bn (about R889bn) and $90bn stolen annually, according to the UN. A 2020 report from a UN conference on trade and development states that IFFs represent as much as 3.7% of Africa's GDP. This figure has almost certainly grown since then, given that those who break laws will keep doing so if they are not held accountable. We recently convened a G20 multi-stakeholder dialogue to better understand this challenge, quantify its impact, assess current solutions, and identify new ones . One of our speakers, deputy minister of international relations and co-operation Alvin Botes, spelt out what this theft means: countries with high IFFs spend at least 25% less on healthcare and 50% less on education compared with their peers. IFFs wipe out any good the $65bn in aid Africa receives each year might do. They reduce progress made in making people's lives better. There are initiatives under way to address IFFs. For example, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) collaborates with the UN to strengthen countries' financial systems and prevent illicit outflows. While South Africa's inclusion on the FATF's grey list is viewed by some as an embarrassment, it enables us to strengthen our legal and regulatory frameworks, as well as enhance our anti-money-laundering capabilities. While South Africa's inclusion on the FATF's grey list is viewed by some as an embarrassment, it enables us to strengthen our legal and regulatory frameworks, as well as enhance our anti-money-laundering capabilities. We are also seeing prosecutions of high-level fraudsters, especially those who use dubious accounting methods to move money around and avoid paying their fair share of taxes. It is gratifying to see that action has been taken in this regard. Other UN entities have developed discussion platforms and measurement systems. There are 10 asset-recovery inter-agency networks that have 178 member countries, allowing illicit money flows to be traced across borders. In addition, Interpol supports national and international law enforcement agencies to investigate, trace and prosecute those responsible for these crimes. We must all strive towards expanding such interventions, as well as advocate for and enable closer alignment between government departments and between local law enforcement agencies and their international counterparts. However, our solutions must not cause more harm than good by discouraging legitimate investment. We should not, for example, implement unfair tax regimes that could result in capital flight. We must also not inhibit international investment inflows by making it nearly impossible to comply with legislation and regulations. Such a state of affairs would merely encourage companies to operate businesses in sectors such as import and export under the radar. Through working together by sharing data, harmonising laws and holding those responsible for IFFs accountable, we can strengthen the economy by plugging the holes through which money leaks and encouraging investment. Our people deserve nothing less.
The Citizen
6 hours ago
- The Citizen
Suspected cop killer arrested in Bushbuckridge
A suspect linked to the murder of Constable Khulani Chabangu on May 30 has been arrested. The 25-year-old suspect was caught while loitering in the streets of Mkhuhlu in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, yesterday at around 16:30. Mpumalanga News reports that a team of investigators comprising the Hawks, National Crime Intelligence and the Calcutta Police Task Team effected the arrest. 'The suspect was found in possession of two cellphones. It is believed that one of the phones was stolen during the robbery and murder of the policeman,' says Mpumalanga Hawks spokesperson, Colonel Magonseni Nkosi. Further police investigations led the team to the house of a person of interest linked to the suspect. 'Upon seeing the police, the suspect fled into the residential area, managing to evade arrest,' says Nkosi. 'A search of the house was conducted during which a handgun with the serial numbers filed off and four live ammunition rounds were seized,' he adds. Chabangu (29), who was attached to Volksrust SAPS, was gunned down during a business robbery at a barbershop in Lillydale Trust under the Bushbuckridge municipality. The robbers entered the premises and demanded valuables from the victims, including cellphones and cash. They allegedly assaulted the victims and stripped the policeman of his clothes before taking his vehicle keys. As they left the barbershop, Chabangu pursued the robbers. They shot him in the upper body, killing him instantly. The Mpumalanga head of the Hawks, Major General Nico Gerber, vowed that the police would not rest until all involved in the killing of the officer were behind bars. 'We strongly believe that justice will be served for the family, community and the SAPS,' says Gerber. Chabangu's funeral takes place today in Bushbuckridge. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The South African
6 hours ago
- The South African
Limpopo police bust truck smuggling stolen goods to Malawi
Limpopo police struck a decisive blow against transnational crime, intercepting a highly organised smuggling syndicate transporting stolen goods from Cape Town to Malawi. At around 2:00 on Thursday, 5 June, the Limpopo Anti-Smuggling Task Team, working with Tshimollo Security and Investigation and Shadow Secure Technology, stopped a Scania truck with superlink trailers near the Polokwane weighbridge. The truck, believed to be part of a broader criminal network exploiting the Beitbridge border post, was found carrying a staggering cache of stolen items following an 18-hour search operation. 'This breakthrough represents a major victory against sophisticated criminal networks that have been exploiting our borders to traffic stolen goods,' said Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe. Stolen Goods Reveal Chopped Cars and Bikes Investigators uncovered chopped parts of a Ford Ranger stolen in Nyanga, including critical components like the engine and dashboard. Sixty disassembled motorcycles, hidden in drums and containers, were traced to thefts from at least seven police precincts across the Western Cape, such as Bellville, Muizenberg, and Sea Point. Electronic goods suspected to have been stolen, including plasma televisions, sound systems, solar tower batteries, and cell phones, were also added to the haul. All were concealed in an elaborate smuggling setup designed to pass undetected through one of the busiest trade routes in southern Africa. 'The collaboration between our Anti-Smuggling Task Team and private security partners demonstrates the power of coordinated law enforcement efforts,' Hadebe noted. The total value of the recovered goods is estimated to exceed R3 million. Four Suspects to Face Justice Four foreign nationals, aged between 37 and 50, were arrested at the scene. They are expected to appear in the Polokwane Magistrate's Court on Monday, 9 June, to face charges related to possession of suspected stolen goods. Authorities have also seized the truck and trailers involved, treating the vehicle as key evidence in an ongoing investigation into cross-border smuggling syndicates. Hadebe assured the public, 'We will continue to target these criminal syndicates relentlessly until they are completely dismantled.' With police ramping up their focus on smuggling syndicates, are our borders finally tightening? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
