'Tik' farm seized
2005-12-22 16:40
Johannesburg - The assets forfeiture unit (AFU) and police on Thursday seized an Mpumalanga farm used as a base for the manufacture of the drug "tik".
The farm belongs to Harold Mamba, a Swazi citizen on trial for contravening the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act, national prosecuting authority spokesperson Makhosini Nkosi said.
The farm, near Machadodorp, had been placed in curatorship by the Pretoria High Court, he said.
The NPA had the next 90 days to apply to the court to declare the farm forfeited to the state on the grounds that it was an instrument in the commission of a crime.
Police raided the farm in October last year after receiving information that it was housing a clandestine drug factory.
"On October 6 2004 police conducted a search of the farm.
"However, no-one was found on the farm.
"A number of personal items were found in the house, which made the police conclude that the inhabitants of the house had vacated it hastily," Nkosi said.
Chinese
"Food with Chinese printing on the packaging, newspapers printed in the Chinese language and Chinese clothing were found in the house.
Police concluded that the inhabitants of the house were mainly Chinese," Nkosi added.
Large amounts of chemicals, various pots, containers, drying racks, crystals, gas burners, gloves, facemasks and other equipment were also found.
Nkosi said at the time there was enough ephedrine hydrochloride on the premises to produce approximately 45kg of "tik" with a value of R11.3m.
There was also sufficient synthesised product to yield at least 10kg of "tik" with a value of R2.5m.
In addition, there were 270g of "tik" crystals with a value of R67 500.
Fingerprints
Police also found the fingerprints of Mamba and two Chinese nationals, later identified as Xhiong Peiyang and Wing Sun Chun.
Mamba was arrested in Johannesburg the same day. He was in the country illegally.
A police profile of Wing was found in his car when it was searched the next day.
"The presence of this profile suggested that Mamba had access to police files and information and may also explain why the farm was deserted when the police came to search it," Nkosi added.
Warrants for the arrest of Peiyang and Wing have been issued.
Peiyang has apparently left the country while Wing's whereabouts are unknown.
- SAPA