Two suspects between the ages of 37 and 45 will make their first court appearance on Monday, 26 May 2025 after they were arrested on Friday, 23 May 2025 by members of the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation (SOCI) team and K9 Unit all based in Johannesburg.
National Hawks Spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Singo it was
on 23 May 2025, as an information was received by the Hawks’ SOCI about a vehicle that will be traveling along M2 and it was reported that the vehicle will allegedly be having illicit gold. The police followed up on the information and the team was deployed along M2 road. The vehicle was spotted entering the filling station with two occupants inside and later drove out. The police followed the vehicle and stopped it on the M2 freeway. The vehicle was searched and nothing illegal was found inside. Further search was conducted and one of the suspect who was a passenger was found hiding 70 grams of illicit gold inside his shoes. 
The suspects were both taken back to their place of residence in Nelspruit to continue with the search. Upon arrival at their residential place, the police searched the premises and discovered 60 grams of illicit gold. Both suspects were arrested for Contravention of Precious Metal Act.
The suspects are expected to appear before the Johannesburg Magistrates Court on Monday, 26 May 2025.
The Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in Gauteng Major General Ebrahim Kadwa has commended the work done by the investigation team, ‘ the Hawks will remain resolute in combating cross province organised crime and we are determined to address the illegal gold impacting our nation’ he said. The recent successes in the arrest of several individuals is testament to that”, Major General Kadwa concluded.