South African police have arrested five people after uncovering a suspected crystal methamphetamine laboratory on a farm in Limpopo province.
The farm is located near Musina, close to South Africa’s border with Zimbabwe.
Police carried out the overnight raid following a two-month investigation into suspicious activities on the property.
Officers seized drugs and laboratory equipment worth about 600 million rand, or $37 million. They also recovered an undisclosed amount of cash.
“The discovery has exposed an alleged sophisticated, industrial-scale operation believed to have been established for the manufacture of dangerous illicit substances destined for distribution,” the police said.
The five suspects are between 20 and 47 years old. They include two Mexican nationals, two Zimbabweans and one Malawian.
Authorities believe the laboratory may be connected to a wider expansion of Latin American drug networks into Africa.
Several major drug laboratories involving Mexican nationals have been discovered across the continent in recent years.
Limpopo’s head of the Hawks, South Africa’s priority crime investigation unit, said the raid should serve as a warning to organised criminal networks.
The five suspects are expected to appear before the Musina Magistrates Court on Monday. They face charges connected to the manufacture and possession of illegal drugs.
South Africa has a large market for crystal meth, while demand is also increasing in neighbouring countries.
A 2025 report said drug laboratories in South Africa and Mozambique “are emblematic of the expansion of Latin American cartels into Africa and cooperation with local criminal groups”.
Investigations into the suspected operation are continuing.
