Six suspects have been arrested after being found at a crystal-methamphetamine (meth) laboratory worth R350 million on a farm in Volksrust in Mpumalanga.

Five of the arrested suspects are reportedly from a North American country and the sixth suspect is the farm’s caretaker.

Two other suspects who are believed to be from West African countries managed to evade arrest after fleeing into nearby bushes.

Police spokesperson Fundiswa Maphanga says they received a tip-off about a suspicious chemical smell coming from the farm and acted on it.

“A thorough search of the premises led to the discovery of large quantities of precursor chemicals used in drug manufacturing, drug-manufacturing equipment, crystal methamphetamine valued at approximately R350 million packaged in lunch boxes and buckets and stored in freezers; a pellet gun loaded with blank rounds and three live nine-milimetre rounds found in the possession of the farm’s caretaker.”

Maphanga adds: “Following the discovery, the premises were secured and Forensics was called in to process the scene, which was handed over to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations. They are facing possible charges related to contravening the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act as well as the Immigration Act.”

#sapsMP Mpumalanga #SAPS dismantled a clandestine crystal methamphetamine laboratory worth an estimated R350 million and arresting five foreign nationals on a farm in Volksrust on Friday, 19 September 2025.

Five foreign nationals from a North American country were arrested,… pic.twitter.com/BuNpOVqqjZ

— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) September 20, 2025