Two men from Chatsworth, Sagathaven Govindasamy, 54, and Neelan Meek, 51, were arrested for allegedly manufacturing crack-cocaine in a makeshift lab in Montford. The arrest took place on February 14, following a joint operation by the Hawks, Port Shepstone Serious Organised Crime Investigation, KwaZulu-Natal Counter Narcotics, and the Durban Metro Police Drug Team.
According to Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Sibu Ncane, Govindasamy was initially stopped while driving a vehicle, where police found a significant stash of mandrax tablets. A subsequent search of his Montford residence uncovered a crack-cocaine manufacturing operation, with police finding the men cooking crack-cocaine in a kitchen lab, along with drug paraphernalia such as scales, bottles, and utensils used in the production.
The combined value of the seized drugs, paraphernalia, and Govindasamy’s vehicle is estimated at R180,900. The vehicle will undergo further investigation by the Hawks Asset Forfeiture Investigation Unit.
Additionally, a Montford couple, Yusuf Wahab, 43, and Valentina Chetty, 39, were arrested for operating a cocaine storage facility. They were found in possession of 1,104 pieces of crack cocaine valued at R110,500 and were granted R1,000 bail each.
