JOHANNESBURG - The Hawks have arrested nine people in connection with an alleged illegal trade of precious metals in Greenstone, east of Johannesburg.
The suspects are aged between 20 and 56, and were arrested during a raid at a property.
Investigators seized around 20 kilograms of palladium, 11 kilograms of osmium and specialised equipment used to process unwrought gold.
The Hawks estimate the value of the seized metals and equipment at around R23-million.
The suspects allegedly failed to produce the permits, licences or company registration documents required to trade or handle precious metals.
They are expected to appear in the Edenvale Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.