UPDATE: SAPS uncover drugs worth R4.5m in Joburg, launch manhunt for suspects

JOHANNESBURG – Members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Gauteng descended on an active scene in Kibler Park, south of Johannesburg, where a drug bust worth R4.5 million is under way.

The discovery was made on Friday afternoon with multi-disciplinary law enforcement at the scene. 

While machines believed to have been used to manufacture drugs were found on the property, no suspects were found on the scene.

Gauteng SAPS Commissioner Tommy Mthombeni said: “The kind of machines which have been found here are big. There are also end products which we found coded as star, boss and bentley. So you could see even the names they are using are big names.”

In this small and quiet neighbourhood in Kibler Park, a house that appeared ordinary has been revealed to be a drug lab.

The property was cordoned off with yellow tape as forensic officials conducted their investigations.

Residents were visibly shocked to learn that the house was being used for illicit activities, looking on from their yards as police carried out the raid.

Mthombeni said the drug lab had been under police surveillance for quite some time.

“We have been watching this house. This kind of drug lab is not something which you accidentally find. We got intelligence-led information and we followed it up.”

He said a manhunt was launched to find the suspects.