Clandestine laboratory dismantled and suspect arrested

The Hawks Secunda based Serious Organised Crime Investigation with the assistance of Pretoria Forensic Laboratory operationalised information about a clandestine laboratory at residential premises in Secunda.

The team confirmed the information, and a search and seizure warrant was authorised and executed on the same day.

During the search and seizure operation, manufacturing equipment and chemicals were seized for further investigation. The following was seized: four batteries (size of a normal car battery), two cylinders (50 litres and a 25 litres), pipes, wire, two bags of dagga weighing over 100kg, dry dagga, hydroponic dagga, eight boxes of unused syringes 3ml, four boxes of unused syringes 10ml, about 20 loose syringes containing an oily liquid substance, about 30 loose syringes with needles containing oily liquid substance, about five 200g bottles containing black substance not covered, two bags of 500 cotton wool balls, small hand silver weighing scale, two hand grinders (purple and green), two da
gga bags, nine 5 litres of ethyl, 5 litre camphor powder, 1.5 litre diphenyl oxide, 125 g activated charcoal, 57 unused viper cartridges, one unused viper with a white charger in a box, two cooler boxes (white 50 litres and a blue 25 litres), clear packing plastic 2,5 x 250 size and several other items used for distribution.

During the preliminary investigation, it was established that the dagga was used to manufacture cannabis oil. The value of the seized items will be determined once investigation is complete.

The accused is expected to appear before the Secunda District court on Thursday, 05 October 2023. Investigation continues.

Source: South African Police Service