Gauteng Community Safety MEC Faith Mazibuko on Tuesday said police had swooped on an illicit drug manufacturing lab in Benoni and arrested four Nigerian nationals.
Mazibuko said police confiscated two vehicles, a Nissan Almera and a NissanNP 200.
She said the estimated street value of the CAT drug found by the police was R3 million.
CAT – methcathinone (also known as mephedrone) = is an addictive psychoactive substance.
Crossroads Recovery is on record as saying the abuse of this drug is rapidly increasing in South Africa.
The highly addictive drug mostly used for recreational purposes is mainly produced locally in illicit CAT labs.
There has been an increase in the use of CAT since 2010.
CAT is often used as a substitute for other stimulants such as cocaine and ecstasy.
Crossroads Recovery says negative effects of CAT on the brain include aggression or violence toward oneself or others, suicidal ideation, anxiety and restlessness, paranoia, and manic behaviours.
Other negative effects include lowered inhibitions leading to dangerous choices, insomnia, and emotional changes during withdrawal-like depression or anhedonia (an inability to take pleasure in anything).
Captain Ndivhuwo Mulamu said the four suspects aged between 23 and 42 who were arrested by the Hawks have been charged with illegal dealing in drugs.
They are expected to appear in the Benoni Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 17 December 2021.
