South African police have uncovered suspected multi-million-rand drug manufacturing laboratories in Gauteng and North West within two days, arresting nine people and seizing drugs, manufacturing equipment and four firearms in separate intelligence-driven operations.

The latest discovery was made at a farm in Krugersdorp, Gauteng, where Crime Intelligence at the South African Police Service (SAPS) national head office and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, commonly known as the Hawks, uncovered what police described as a multi-million-rand drug manufacturing laboratory.

Quantities of Mandrax and ecstasy tablets were found at the suspected laboratory.

Five South African nationals who were found at the premises were arrested.

Senior SAPS officers were travelling to the scene for further assessment as investigations continued.

Hawks national spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale confirmed the operation and said investigators were continuing with the process of assessing the scene and gathering evidence.

The Krugersdorp operation came a day after police uncovered another suspected drug laboratory at a plot in Skeerpoort, near Hartbeespoort Dam in the North West.

Four suspects were arrested and four firearms, including a rifle and three handguns, were seized during the operation.

The North West operation followed information received by members of the Hartbeespoort Dam SAPS Crime Prevention Unit about suspected illegal activities at the property.

The information was shared with Brits Crime Intelligence and the Hartbeespoort Dam K9 Unit for further intelligence gathering and verification.

When police arrived at the identified address on Wednesday morning, they found three women and a man.

A search of the premises allegedly uncovered a drug laboratory, processed drugs, a drug-production mixture and equipment believed to have been used to manufacture drugs.

North West police spokesperson Colonel Adéle Myburgh said the four suspects included a 39-year-old Zimbabwean national and three women aged between 23 and 29.

They were arrested and face charges of possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, as well as dealing in and manufacturing drugs in terms of the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act.

The suspects are expected to appear in the Brits Magistrates’ Court soon.

Police have not yet disclosed the value of the drugs seized in the Skeerpoort operation, saying investigations are continuing to determine their worth.

The back-to-back discoveries have raised concerns about the use of rural and farming areas for suspected drug manufacturing operations.

The Moral Regeneration Movement in North West welcomed the Skeerpoort arrests but called for intensified efforts to identify and dismantle the wider networks allegedly supporting drug manufacturing and distribution.

MRM provincial committee convenor Pastor Lesiba Kgwele said the recent drug busts pointed to what he described as the reliance of drug syndicates on isolated locations to manufacture and distribute drugs.

“Though we are encouraged that there still exists capacity within the SAPS to mount such a thorough investigation by dedicated police officers, we can only celebrate the successful arrests when all the masterminds behind the drug cartels are completely dismantled,” Kgwele said.

He called for greater cooperation between law-enforcement agencies and communities to identify suspected drug-manufacturing facilities.

Kgwele also urged authorities to review rural safety measures, arguing that emerging crime patterns were increasingly affecting farming communities.

He said rural areas should not become safe havens for operations manufacturing drugs that destroy families and affect young people.

The two operations come as police continue to rely on intelligence gathering, Crime Intelligence and specialised units to identify suspected drug-manufacturing facilities.

While the arrests represent a significant disruption to the operations uncovered in Krugersdorp and Skeerpoort, investigators will now have to establish the scale of the alleged operations, where the drugs were destined and whether the suspects are linked to broader drug-trafficking networks.

Developing.