Mexican drug cartels have set up methamphetamine laboratories on remote farms across South Africa's rural interior, with four major production sites uncovered in just two years, signalling a shift from importing drugs into the country to manufacturing them locally. The most recent raid, in May, targeted a farm near Swartruggens (a small town in North West province) where police seized 481 kilograms of methamphetamine, chemicals, and firearms, and arrested five Mexican nationals alongside South African co-accused; investigators have linked some suspects to the Sinaloa Cartel. Analysts warn that the operations are sustained by police corruption and political protection, making disruption difficult, with one organised crime researcher describing enforcement efforts as "a game of whack-a-mole" as new labs continue to emerge across the country's provinces.