Authorities in South Africa have arrested four individuals, including two Mexican nationals, after discovering a drug manufacturing lab worth millions on a farm in the northern part of the country. The South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks, conducted a raid on the property located in the town of Groblersdal. This operation was initiated following a tip-off about suspicious activities at the site, SAPS announced in a statement.During the search of four structures on the farm, police found large amounts of chemicals used in the production of illicit drugs, such as acetone and crystal meth. The estimated street value of these drugs is around 2 billion South African rand ($109.4 million). The four individuals detained on Friday include the farm owner and the two Mexican nationals. The police noted that the Hawks are not dismissing the possibility of additional arrests. “What makes this different from other seizures is the involvement of Mexican citizens,” said Katlego Mogale, national spokesperson for the Hawks, to Reuters. “It means that our task has just become very difficult.”There is currently no clarity on whether the seized drugs were meant for the South African market or for international distribution.The suspects are scheduled to appear at Groblersdal Magistrate’s court on Monday, facing charges related to manufacturing, dealing, and possessing illicit drugs, as per the police service. Earlier in January, the police reported that around 131 drug labs had been dismantled nationwide since 2019. Additionally, during the last year’s festive season, over 19,000 individuals were arrested for drug possession. So far this year, the Hawks have uncovered 10 secret drug labs and detained 34 people as part of their ongoing efforts against drug trafficking in the country, according to the statement.Research by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime in 2021 suggested that South Africa could potentially become one of the “largest meth consumer markets in the world.” The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) also described South Africa last year as “an attractive drug transit country.” The UNODC attributed the nation’s expanding market for synthetic drugs to its “porous borders,” geographical location, and international trade connections.For more updates, join our [WhatsApp channel](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VabITrvEAKW7DSkTfP0JSouth).