On Valentine's Day the Hawks pounced on two men at Bloemfontein airport before they boarded a plane with more than R21.1-million stuffed in their bags.
Police Captain Philani Nkwalase said the Hawks‚ acting on a tip-off‚ arrested 25-year-old Baig Mahomed and 50-year-old Mahomed Hoosen.
"The Hawks‚ along with the police‚ swiftly acted on information about the duo [who] had four big travelling bags full of cash." They were intercepted before catching a flight to Cape Town‚ said Nkwalase.
"Preliminary investigations revealed that they drove from Durban to Bloemfontein prior to their arrest.
Furthermore‚ it was established that Baig had a previous conviction for possession of dagga in 2010.''
Police believe the money – which includes US dollars – is the proceeds of crime.
Baig and Mahomed appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court on Thursday. The matter was postponed to February 21.