Perlemoen worth R4m found at 'processing plant' on West Rand farm

Perlemoen worth an estimated R4m has been found on a farm at Hekpoort, west of Johannesburg.

Police spokesperson Brig Mathapelo Peters said the West Rand flying squad received a tip-off on Monday night that a truck from Cape Town, loaded with fresh perlemoen , was headed to the farm.

Peters said the truck was expected to then transport the processed perlemoen to Mozambique.

She said when officers arrived they discovered an illegal processing and packaging plant, where raw and processed perlemoen was found.

Police also found equipment and chemicals suspected to be used during processing and packaging of the perlemoen .

Further investigation led officers to two houses on the farm, where seven men and a woman were arrested.

Two illegal firearms, one of which had been reported stolen in Klerksdorp, and ammunition were seized, along with cash.