Johannesburg - Six men, including four cash-in-transit company employees, were arrested near Pretoria after they were found in possession of 50kg of gold worth R23 million.
Hawks spokesman Captain Paul Ramaloko said the alleged syndicate were driving in three vehicles from Limpopo on the N1 towards Pretoria.
The Hawks pulled them off the N1 on Monday.
Five firearms and the three vehicles were seized.
It was unclear where the men were transporting the gold to.
The suspects are expected to appear in the Pretoria North Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday to face charges of dealing in and smuggling precious metal.
In a separate incident on Friday, Gauteng Organised Crime Tactical Operational Management Unit members pounced on a gang of six men suspected to have been involved in a spate of robberies and hijackings.
Gauteng police spokeswoman Lieutenant-Colonel Khensani Magoai said the alleged gang followed their victims from shopping malls and robbed them as they entered their homes.
Magoai said four firearms – an AK-47, a shotgun and two pistols – were seized. Flat-screen TVs, jewellery, computers, cellphones and other electronic household equipment were also found.
The suspects were positively linked to a robbery in Edenvale on Friday.
The suspects appeared in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court and were charged with the possession of illegal firearms and ammunition and possession of suspected stolen property.
The Star