The Hawks have secured a High Court order preserving R60 200 seized during a raid on a Barberton herbalist shop where mercury was allegedly found, reports the Lowvelder.

The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation said the preservation order, granted by the Mpumalanga Division of the High Court on September 16, prevents the money from being dissipated while investigations continue.

The cash was seized during a search of the herbalist shop on July 16 following information about the alleged illegal sale of mercury.

Members of the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit, based in Mbombela, executed the search warrant at the premises.

During the search, mercury was allegedly recovered along with R60 200 in cash, which the Hawks said was concealed in different locations inside the shop.

The alleged owner of the business, a foreign national, was arrested.

According to the Hawks, the female owner could not provide a reasonable explanation for the origin of the cash.

The money was subsequently seized and deposited with the SAPS Finance Office in Mbombela.

Colonel Magonseni Nkosi, spokesperson for the Mpumalanga Hawks, said the preservation order forms part of the unit’s efforts to target assets allegedly linked to criminal activity.

He said the Hawks would continue to pursue the proceeds of crime and assets allegedly linked to unlawful activities.

Nkosi could not immediately confirm what happened to the woman following her arrest, saying he still needed to consult the investigating officer.

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