In a separate incident, a couple was arrested for wholesaling crack cocaine to smaller dealers. Police found a man allegedly cooking crack-cocaine in a makeshift kitchen laboratory in Montford.
Two Chatsworth men were arrested after they were caught allegedly cooking crack-cocaine in a makeshift kitchen laboratory in Montford on Friday.
The men, aged 51 and 54, were expected to appear in the Chatsworth Magistrate’s Court today.
“Hawks members from the Port Shepstone Serious Organised Crime Investigation, KwaZulu-Natal Counter Narcotics, and the Durban Metro Police Drug Team acted on information about drug transportation in the Montford area. The team launched a disruptive operation and strategically stopped a vehicle matching the description provided by the informant," said Warrant Officer Sibu Ncane, the spokesperson for the Hawks.
“The police searched the vehicle and discovered a cache of mandrax tablets. The team then proceeded to search the residence of the driver, where they found a suspect allegedly cooking crack-cocaine in a makeshift kitchen laboratory. Additionally, drugs were recovered along with scales, bottles and cooking utensils indicating the production of illegal narcotics.”
Both suspects were arrested and charged with dealing in drugs.
The vehicle used for transporting the drugs was also seized by the police and will be referred to the Hawks Asset Forfeiture Investigation Unit for further investigation.
The total value of the confiscated drugs, paraphernalia and vehicle is estimated to be R180 900-00.
In a separate police operation, a couple was arrested for operating a cocaine storage premises in Montford last Tuesday.
According to police sources, the 43-year-old man and his 39-year-old wife were wholesaling large amounts of crack cocaine (rock) to other smaller dealers.
The couple were both found in possession of a total of 1 104 pieces of crack cocaine as well as drug paraphernalia.