South African police uncovered a multi-million-rand crystal meth lab on a remote farm, marking the third such bust in less than four months as authorities crack down.

South African police uncovered a crystal meth lab hidden on a remote farm, they said Thursday, in the third such operation in less than four months.

The overnight bust follows similar raids last month and in May in which Mexican nationals suspected of links to Latin American drugs cartels were arrested.

Suspicious smell leads to major discovery

Police swooped on the farm about 200km north of Johannesburg after local people reported suspicious activities and a strong, unpleasant smell, police said.

They found equipment and materials suspected to have been used in the manufacturing of drugs and arrested a 62-year-old, they said.

The suspect was renting the property, police said, without giving details.

“Preliminary investigations established that the operation was involved in the manufacturing of crystal methamphetamine,” they said in a statement.

Well-funded operation uncovered

“We found very expensive equipment like washing machines that have been bought recently,” North West police chief Arthur Peter Adams said.

“That is an indication that whoever is funding this is a person with very deep pockets.”

Police in May uncovered a multi-million-dollar methamphetamine laboratory and arrested 11 suspects, including four Mexicans, on a remote farm northwest of Johannesburg.

In August, they uncovered a crystal meth laboratory on the border with Zimbabwe and rounded up several foreign nationals including two Mexicans.

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International trafficking route

The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime said in a July 2025 report that such laboratories supply international markets at a time of rising demand for cocaine and methamphetamine in Australia and New Zealand, where retail prices for both drugs are among the highest in the world.

The Swiss-based NGO added that strong legitimate trade flows between South Africa and Australia “may also contribute to the growth of this route” for methamphetamine trafficking.

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