Drug lab accused denied bail

Two men accused of running a massive drug lab at farm in South Africa's Limpopo Province, have been denied bail, reports News24. Frederick Botha and Melvin Khumalo appeared in the Groblersdal Magistrate's Court last Monday, facing charges of manufacturing and dealing in drugs, as well as money laundering. The two South Africans were arrested on 19 July alongside Mexican nationals Gonzalez Jorge Partida, Gutierrez Alejandro and Rodriguez Vidan, who were allegedly operating an illegal drug laboratory. Partida, Alejandro and Vidan also face charges of contravening the Immigration Act and have abandoned their bids for bail. The group was arrested following an intelligence-driven operation into the illegal operations on the farm, which Botha owns. Police uncovered vast quantities of chemicals used for drug manufacturing along with a large clandestine laboratory. Police seized 408.95kg of methamphetamine (crystal meth), estimated to have a street value of R2bn. National Prosecuting Authority Limpopo spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi said Botha had claimed during bail proceedings that the Mexican nationals were renting his farm, but he failed to produce a lease agreement to prove this. Khumalo stated in his affidavit that he was merely performing his duties as a transporter, claiming he had been hired to deliver food and chemicals to the operation. However, investigating officer Sergeant Mtumtu Monene opposed the accused's bail applications and testified that Khumalo had told police officers that he was delivering chemicals and bringing groceries for the Mexicans. Malabi-Dzhangi said the accused's evidence was not tested through cross-examination, which rendered the state unable to put forward a version regarding the strength of the case to source the applicants' comments. Malabi-Dzhangi said the court had found that the state had a strong case against the applicants and there was a likelihood that the applicants would evade the trial. The matter has been postponed to 8 November.

See also full Cape Argus report

Full News24 report