He was picked up in a suburb of Johannesburg together with seven others during an early morning house raid, according to a police statement.

The 46-year-old man is believed to be connected to a criminal organisation in Israel called the Abergil Organisation. The gang is said to deal in drug trafficking, extortion and other criminal activities.

The suspected gang leader has been on Interpol’s red notice list since 2015. He is wanted in Israel for conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder.

The authorities are not naming him until he appears in court, which is expected within 48 hours.

The police seized five assault rifles, seven pistols and three suspected stolen motorcycles during the raid.