a historic building in Durban’s South Beach and uncovered a drug
laboratory. The 90-year-old Pioneer Lodge, once a popular hotel is home
to mostly senior citizens
31, and Ifani Henry Nnadi, 26 were arrested at the scene. They have been
charged with drug possession.
“They were also found in possession of a machine used to manufacture
the drugs, 2kg of white powder and 750g of embalming powder suspected to
be the ingredients of manufacturing drugs,” said Hawks spokesman
Simphiwe Mhlongo.
ecstasy. “The equipment and ingredients were seized. The street value
of the drugs seized is about R250 000. All confiscated items will be
sent to the forensic laboratory to determine the type of drug.”
as meth, crystal, chalk, or ice. It is an extremely addictive stimulant
in the form of a white, odourless, bitter-tasting crystalline powder.
of flats in the area, and were using three or four of them for their
business. The elderly residents said they were disappointed at how their
โhappy homeโ had become a nightmare to live in and said there was no
vetting process for newcomers.
“Lately, there was a funny smell in the building. I wasnโt quite sure
what it was but it did smell like strong chemical. We are old people and
we just want to live peacefully here. We donโt know how such people are
being let into the building without being vetted properly,” said
60-year-old Pinky Karstn, who has been living there for 14 years.
“Our suspicions were confirmed when the police raided them this week. We
fear for our lives in such an environment. The building is meant for
elderly people not for criminals,” said 75-year-old Patrick Simon, who
has been resident for 18 years.
