Three men who are accused of operating an illegal gold processing refinery in Zuurbekom in Gauteng is expected to appear in the Westonaria Magistrate's Court on Thursday.
The men, aged between 21 and 47 were arrested during an integrated operation between the Hawks, TRT and Eskom.
A spokesperson Captain Ndivhuwo Mulamu says they received intel of an illegal gold processing plant which they started to observe for quite some time.
On Wednesday the team pounced on the plot where they discovered five well-developed operations.
Two men were caught in the act whilst the plot owner was also arrested for harbouring people who were busy with criminal activities on his property.
Police confiscated all kinds of equipment, including four gas cylinders, mercury and thirty tonnes of gold-bearing materials worth about R5 million.
Eskom was involved in the investigation as it was established that the suspects were allegedly stealing electricity to sustain their operations.
Pic: SAPS
