The six were all arrested on Monday, with the first group of three men busted in the morning while the last three were apprehended that night. 

These arrests followed an intelligence-driven operation by the Hawks after a year-long investigation which probed their involvement in illicit mining among others. They appeared in court on Tuesday, but their case was rolled over to Wednesday. 

Hawks provincial spokesperson, Tlangelani Rikhotso, previously told OFM News that during the apprehension of these suspects several items including money, a firearm, cars, mercury, and gold refining equipment were seized.

Rikhotso further tells OFM News that the six were arrested following a covert operation by the Hawks that unveiled underworld dealings in Khuma.

She adds that R76 000 was confiscated. The six suspects are Abraham Chem Banda; Bernett Pogisho Seliane; Bulelani Kima Mbambo; Fati Mbambo; Sipiriti Sesing, and Sam Maqaya.

"Seven houses were simultaneously stormed on Monday morning by the Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit, assisted by members of the Tactical Response Team, the North West Detectives, the Kenneth Kaunda District Illegal Mining team and the Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC)," Rikhotso added

OFM News