Overview

• Police say the Friday operation targeted a rural property in Volksrust, about 250 kilometers southeast of Johannesburg.
• Officers seized methamphetamine, precursors and packaging worth roughly 350 million rand, with packets hidden in food boxes, and they also detained a South African.
• Authorities said potential links to a Mexican cartel are under investigation and have not been established.
• The arrest follows earlier South African cases in 2024 that involved Mexican nationals and large meth seizures, including about 2 billion rand in July and 100 million rand in November.
• GI‑TOC reported in July 2025 that the scale of seizures and Mexican involvement suggests South African labs feed international markets, driven by high prices in Oceania and cover provided by legitimate trade routes.