UPDATE: No arrests made in Springs raid

Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi, spokesman for the Hawks, spoke to the Addie this morning about the raid which took place in Hills Road, Selection Park yesterday.

According to him, this was the culmination of an 18 month investigation into gold smuggling.

Operation Tarantula saw 18 houses, more than one in Springs, being raided across Gauteng and Limpopo in what the Hawks have confirmed is a trans-national syndicate.

Mulaudzi says that they were there to collect “all the evidence possible” and the entire property was therefore searched.

Goldkid, a gold refinery, is run from these premises and was a focal point of the investigation and raid.

Mulaudzi says this is a highly organized business but the Hawks have not yet arrested anyone in connection with this raid.

He says once they have gone through all the evidence collected and processed it they will decide whether to make any arrests.

At the time of the interview, he was uncertain of whether any gold was found on the Springs property and promised to furnish the Addie with more details, about this ongoing investigation, later today.

During the raid, they discovered an armoured vehicle on the premises but Mulaudzi says after checking its details it was found to be legally registered to “an entity”.

However, he comments: “We cannot prove it, but I believe that this vehicle was used to transport the gold.”

When asked why the Nyala drove through the wall, rather than using the gate, he commented, “to gain access” to the property which he agrees (with neighbor Vince Bonney’s comment to the Addie yesterday) is like Fort Knox.

He says that the security at the house is very tight, explaining that there are two gates which need to be opened to get onto the premises, a high wall with electric fencing and security cameras inside and out.

Mulaudzi says there were people on the property but they resisted entry, forcing the Hawks to call in the SAPS’s Nyalas.

“Smashing through the wall enabled us to use the element of surprise.

“From human perspective, how can you have a refinery in a residential area?

“No wonder the security was so tight.”

He says he was disturbed by the negative attitude of the neighbours to the raid.

“People should know that we are dealing with crime and they should appreciate what the Hawks are doing.”

Commenting on the entire operation, he confirmed the Hawks have arrested 46 people connected to the syndicate, none from Springs, who are all out on bail currently.

“Remember we are dealing with big shots in the industry and no one is above the law.”