"The Hawks have made another breakthrough in arresting six people, thus smashing a syndicate that police believe was behind a massive drugs dealing and smuggling ring," said Hawks spokesman Musa Zondi.
Police arrested one person in Cape Town and another five in Johannesburg on Wednesday in what they called "Operation Chameleon".
All six of those arrested were Nigerian nationals.
At least one person was believed to have escaped arrest.
"In the search raids that police conducted, in one of the addresses it was clear that suspects got wind of the impending arrest or search and fled earlier in the day," said Zondi.
Germiston police also seized US$150,000, a safe containing R668,000, a Carlswald house, cellphones, three cars including a Mercedez-Benz R500, and items believed to be connected to drug smuggling.
The woman arrested in Cape Town was found in possession of R19,900 in cash.
The Carlswald house in Midrand was believed to be owned by a company the alleged syndicate was using to launder money and was the residence of the primary suspect.
The alleged ringleader was arrested at a house in Dainfern Golf Estate.
The five arrested in Johannesburg would appear in Germiston Magistrate's Court on Monday.
The woman had already appeared in court in Cape Town, but her trial will be moved to Germiston.
Gang members arrested in PE
In addition, six men were arrested on gang-related charges in Port Elizabeth on Thursday, Eastern Cape police said.
Captain Sandra van Rensburg said the arrests came after a long investigation into the men who were allegedly involved in killing and injuring various people.
"We are not going to tolerate gangsters... there are 12 charges against them," she said.
She said four other alleged gang members were arrested earlier this week, bringing to ten the number of arrests.
Wanted robbers caught in Joburg
In another incident, three men wanted for robberies in the country were also arrested in Hillbrow and Midrand in Johannesburg on Thursday.
Police arrested one of the men in Hillbrow after he shot at security guards on Thursday afternoon, Captain Bhekizizwe Mavundla said.
When the guard stopped the man ran away and, when the guard caught up with him, he started shooting. Police were called and caught him.
His firearm was confiscated and connected to several robberies around the country. He later led the police to a house in Midrand where two other men were arrested and two firearms confiscated. The guns were also linked to other robberies including one in Motetema, Mpumalanga.
They were arrested for robbery and possession of illegal firearms and would appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court on Friday.
Sapa
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