Two Chatsworth men arrested in alleged Montford drug lab operation, granted bail

Two Chatsworth men, who were nabbed while allegedly manufacturing drugs in a kitchen lab in Montford, were released on bail last week.

Sagathaven Govindasamy, 54, of Montford, and Neelan Meek, 51, of Westcliff, appeared in the Chatsworth Magistrate’s Court. They were each granted R3 000 bail.

The accused were arrested on February 14 by Hawks members from the Port Shepstone Serious Organised Crime Investigation, KwaZulu-Natal Counter Narcotics, and the Durban Metro Police Drug Team.

Warrant Officer Sibu Ncane, spokesperson for the Hawks, said the men were operating a drug manufacturing operation by cooking crack-cocaine in a makeshift kitchen laboratory in Govindasamy’s Montford home.

He said the team launched a disruptive operation and strategically stopped a vehicle matching the description provided by the informant. The vehicle was being driven by Govindasamy.

“Police searched the vehicle and discovered a cache of mandrax tablets. They 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,” said Ncane in initial reports.

Govindasamy’s vehicle was 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 was estimated at R180 900.

Meanwhile, a Montford couple, Yusuf Wahab, 43, and Valentina Chetty,39, who were arrested last Tuesday for allegedly operating a cocaine storage premises, were also released on bail.

They were both found in possession of 1 104 pieces of crack cocaine and drug paraphernalia. The street value of the drugs was R110 500.

Wahab and Chetty were each granted R1 000 bail.

THE POST