The Free State High Court granted the Hawks' Priority Crime Specialised Investigation an asset forfeiture order worth R2 million. The asset forfeiture emanates from an intensive investigation that led to arrests that were effected during a project driven investigation carried out by the Free State Hawks' Serious Organised Crime Investigation team in collaboration with Free State Crime Intelligence (CI). The project began in July 2018, aiming at disrupting and dismantling the identified illicit mining in Welkom. Targets were identified as members of a syndicate involved in illicit mining activities, money laundering, and corruption. Several items including 23 vehicles to the estimated value of more than R5 million, two firearms, two gas bottles, one cutting torch set with pipes, documents, and undisclosed amount of money were seized during the arrest of seven suspects on 15 November 2021. A Ford Ranger, Mercedes Benz, Toyota Hilux, Toyota Conquest, and a Toyota Corolla, which are profits of unlawful dealin g in gold, were preserved. Source: South African Police Service