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The South African Police Service says a crime intelligence driven operation has uncovered a major drug laboratory in Alexander Drive, in Gillits in Kwazulu Natal.
SAPS spokesperson, lieutenant-general Solomon Makgale, says members of the police's counter narcotics was following up on information on the origins of heroine straws when they were led to the house in Gillits.
He says nineteen men, all foreign nationals between the ages of 18 and 37, were arrested on Saturday.
"They are likely to face charges of possession and dealing in drugs. The entire operation, we estimate, has a street value of over R41 million which consists of R21.4 million worth of heroin straws, R4.1 million of mandrax tablets, R15 million of heroin powder and equipment," Makgale said.
He says "the detection of this lab has come just days after the same team uncovered a major drug distribution centre in Kempton Park which was worth R75 million.'
"We have no doubt that an operation of this magnitude is the work of a syndicate and we believe that we are making great inroads in bringing these major drug syndicates to its knees," he added.
"While we applaud our Crime Intelligence unit for a job well done, we certainly don't lose sight of enormous role our communities are playing to complement our efforts to minimise the scourge of drugs and the ill effects it has on our societies," Makgale said.
