SA Revenue Service officials have nabbed a man for allegedly attempting to smuggle 23 pieces of gold into South Africa.
A 33-year-old Zimbabwean man was arrested at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on Saturday with smuggled gold worth R11 million (over K560 million) South Africaâs.
The unnamed man flew into the airport with the 23 pieces of gold which he did not declare.
The Hawks say âhe did not have any permit or licence to be in possession to transport gold.â
âThe traveller was requested to scan his luggage at international arrivals Customs section of the South African Revenue Service (SARS) where 23 pieces of gold were found in his luggage⦠The Hawks were called to effect the arrest and further investigate. The 23 pieces of gold worth R11 million were seized for further investigation,â a Hawks statement said.
BULAWAYO – A 33-year-old Zimbabwean man was arrested at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on Saturday with smuggled gold worth R11 million (about US$730,000), South Africa’s elite police unit the Hawks said.
The unnamed man flew into one of Africa’s busiest airports with 23 pieces of gold which he did not declare, and when challenged “he did not have any permit or licence to be in possession to transport gold.”
The man will appear at the Kempton Park Regional Court on Monday facing charges of contravening the Customs Act 91 of 1964 and Precious Metals Act 37 of 2005 respectively.
“The traveller was requested to scan his luggage at international arrivals Customs section of the South African Revenue Service (SARS) where 23 pieces of gold were found in his luggage… The Hawks were called to effect the arrest and further investigate. The 23 pieces of gold worth R11 million were seized for further investigation,” a Hawks statement said.
Man in court for gold worth R11m
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A 33-year-old man is expected to appear at Kempton Park Regional Court on Monday for being in the possession of 23 pieces of gold worth R11 million.
The Hawks said he was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport on Saturday by their Serious Organised Crime Investigation team.
Spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Philani Nkwalase, said the traveller was requested to scan his luggage at customs sections at international arrivals when authorities found the gold in his luggage.
“He allegedly failed to declare any items and did not have any permits or licences to be in possession or transport gold and the Hawks were called to effect the arrest and further investigation,” Nkwalase said.
Citizen reporter Picture: iStock
Kelvin Chigwede – who was arrested on Saturday – was charged for illegal dealing in rhino horns and contravention of the National Environmental Biodiversity Act (NEMBA) according to Hawks’ spokesperson Captain Ndivhuwo Mulamu.
Chigwede’s case was postponed to 26 January for a formal bail application.
Arrest
In a statement, Ndivhuwo said the Hawks had began an investigation after information of illegal dealing in rhino horn was received.
“In December last year, Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime in Germiston, Benoni SAPS and the South African National Parks (SANPARK) followed up on intelligence regarding a consignment declared as chicken food mixture packaged in a blue geyser at a warehouse in Kempton Park, containing rhino horns weighing about 72.4 kilograms.