Roodepoort - Four foreign nationals were arrested for possession of illegally mined precious metals in Roodepoort on Wednesday, said the Hawks.
Captain Paul Ramaloko said the four men were caught travelling in a truck carrying four tons of unwrought gold, earlier on Wednesday.
Another ton was found abandoned in an open veld.
The men were arrested after a sting-operation at the Durban Deep mine, along Main Reef Road in Roodepoort.
They would appear in the Roodepoort Magistrate's Court on Friday.
Ramaloko said 29 other people were caught mining illegally in the same area and were all foreign nationals from Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Lesotho.
They were found with no documentation and would be handed over to home affairs officials, said Ramaloko. - Sapa