In brief
Police closed a crystal meth laboratory on a Limpopo farm near the Zimbabwe border, arresting two Mexicans and three other foreign nationals. The overnight operation followed a two‑month investigation and seized drugs worth about 600m rand ($37m). The raid highlights a growing trend of Mexican‑run meth labs operating across Africa, with recent cases also in Nigeria and Kenya.
Police in Limpopo Province have seized a multi‑million‑rand crystal meth laboratory on a remote farm near Musina, arresting two Mexicans, a Zimbabwean and a Malawian in the overnight raid.
The operation followed a two‑month investigation into suspicious activity around the property. Authorities seized drugs and equipment worth about 600m rand ($37m) and a large quantity of cash.
Investigations revealed that this is the latest in a series of Mexican‑dominated meth labs hit across South Africa – previous raids in 2024 uncovered labs worth $6m and $20m, while a 2023 laboratory in Limpopo was valued at $108m.
The case underscores the growing use of remote African farms by Mexican cartels to produce and distribute meth. The suspects will appear in court on Monday to face drug manufacturing and possession charges.
South Africa remains one of the world’s largest crystal‑meth consumer markets, with porous borders making it an attractive transit and production hub. Similar operations have also been dismantled in Nigeria, Kenya and Mozambique by the US‑Africa Command.
