A wealthy South African, accused of illegally exporting more than R200-million-worth of precious metals, was arrested at Johannesburg International airport on Friday.
The man, now living in Newmarket, United Kingdom, had arrived in South Africa for a holiday with his family when he was arrested at the airport’s international arrivals lounge by members of the Scorpions and the South African Police Service.
Earlier, eight other South Africans allegedly involved in the syndicate accused of processing illegal metals were arrested in Gauteng and the North West.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Makhosini Nkosi said Friday’s action was the culmination of a four-year international investigation. He said authorities hoped to net a total of 12 suspects involved in the illegal exporting and refining of precious metals.
Apart from the arresting the UK-based suspect, the Scorpions hope to attach assets to the value of R60-million in South Africa and another R60-million in the UK.
The man heading the operation was the Scorpions’ Gauteng head, Advocate Gerrie Nel. He said this was the largest bust thus far in Scorpions history.
”As soon as the man is safely in our hands, members of the UK’s national crime squad will launch a search and seizure operation,” he said.
Nel explained that the investigation was assisted by South African mining houses.
According to the Institute for Security Studies, undetected theft of gold from mines cost the country R9,3-billion between 1994 and 1998.
Nel said alleged syndicate members arrested on Friday had been primarily involved with the illegal exportation and refining of platinum — more valuable than gold.
The men were expected to appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court later on Friday. — Sapa