KwaZulu-Natal police have hit two "drug dens" in the Phoenix area, north of Durban, arresting three people and netting hundreds of thousands of rands worth of drugs.
The busts on Wednesday were conducted by Phoenix police following intelligence information that pointed to a laboratory where drugs were being manufactured.
"Police kept observation on the premises at Westham Place in Phoenix. Police officers entered the premises and seized drugs, such as heroin, which were being manufactured and packaged on the premises," police spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbele said on Thursday.
She said 2 900 capsules of heroin, 720 mandrax tablets, 500 grams of heroin powder and 70 000 empty capsules, together with machinery, were seized.
"The street value of the drugs is R600 000."
She said a 30-year-old suspect was placed under arrest for possession of drugs.
Earlier in the day, the eThekwini Outer North Cluster Crime Intelligence Unit, together with the Durban Public Order Police and Durban Metro Police, arrested two men aged 25 and 36 at Rucklen Place in Phoenix.
The two were found in possession of 2 050 heroin capsules, 60 mandrax tablets and five pieces of rock cocaine.
"The estimated street value of the recovered drugs is R44 500," Mbele said.
She said police had also confiscated cash amounting to R11 827.
"The suspects were charged for dealing in drugs."
Mbele said all three would be appearing at the Verulam Magistrate's Court soon.