Johannesburg, South Africa (CNN) -- An elite South African police squad has arrested 19 suspected Congolese rebels in a remote corner of northern South Africa, an official said, in a raid that may have headed off a coup attempt. "The grouping's objective was to receive specialized military related training to overthrow the current DRC government, under the leadership of President Joseph Kabila," Makhosini Nkosi, a spokesman for the National Prosecuting Authority, said in a statement Tuesday. Read more: Why the world is ignoring Congo war The alleged coup plotters were tracked to a remote area of Limpopo province, suggesting long-term surveillance by South African law enforcement.
@highlight
Police seized 19 suspected Congolese rebels in South Africa, an official says
@highlight
They are accused of plotting a coup in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
@highlight
A Congolese government spokesman says the suspects have links to the M23 rebel group
@highlight
The M23 rebels seized the city of Goma late last year
Why eastern @placeholder is 'rape capital of the world'
"They were planning terrorist attacks in South Africa targeting @placeholder officials and in DRC.
"They were planning terrorist attacks in South Africa targeting Congolese officials and in @placeholder.