A SUSPECTED gold buyer is behind bars.
The 62-year-old madala was arrested on Tuesday, 9 January. He is accused of buying gold from illegal miners.
He was found with a bar of what is believed to be gold on the R21 near Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni.
Captain Nelda Sekgobela said members of the Ekurhuleni district crime intelligence aggravated robbery team together with the EMPD Task Team acted on a tip-off that the suspect was dealing in gold in Alberton.
"The suspect was allegedly seen a few times doing business with different people, mostly foreigners, there," Sekgobela said.
He said the team followed the suspect from Alberton at a safe distance until he was eventually stopped at R21 Road near Kempton Park opposite Emperors Palace.
A search revealed a silver-grey revolver with four live ammunition, for which he did not have a firearm licence.
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"A cartridge and a large stone, believed to be valuable minerals, were found in his possession," he said.
Sekgobela said the suspect was arrested and detained at the Kempton Park cop shop.
Ekurhuleni district commissioner Major-General Anna Sithole commended the teams for their quick response in tackling the increasing number of unlicenced firearms and interdicting offenders in the district.
