CAPE TOWN - A 33-year-old man appeared in court this morning after he was nabbed with 23 pieces of gold worth R11 million at the OR Tambo Airport.
Authorities arrested him the week after he failed to declare that he had 23 pieces of gold inside his luggage.
The arrest was made by the Hawks Serious and Violent Crime Investigation team on Saturday.
Lieutenant-Colonel Philani Nkwalase said the man’s luggage had been checked at the customs section of the SA Revenue Service (Sars) and that he had failed to make a declaration and did not have a permit or licence to transport the gold.
The gold is estimated to be worth R11m.
The police have yet to reveal what the purpose of the gold was.
Nkwalase said the man had travelled from Harare to Zimbabwe and was arrested at the airport: “The traveller was requested to scan his luggage at the international arrivals customs section of the SA Revenue Service (Sars), where 23 pieces of gold were allegedly found in his luggage.
“He allegedly failed to declare any items and did not have any permit or licence to be in possession to transport gold.
“The Hawks were called to effect the arrest and further investigate.
“The preliminary investigation by the Hawks revealed that the suspect travelled from Harare, Zimbabwe, to Johannesburg, South Africa.
“The 23 pieces of gold worth R11m were seized for further investigation.”
Weekend Argus