Cops Nab 14 After Swooping In on Illicit Mining Operation, Uncover R2.5m Gold Bearing Material

• Law enforcement arrested 14 suspects during a raid on an illegal mining operation in Eikenhof, Johannesburg
• The multidisciplinary effort uncovered tons of soil containing gold-bearing material worth over R2.5 million
• The suspects, all Zimbwean nationals, will appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court on various charges

JOHANNESBURG — Police stopped an illegal mining operation in Eikenhof after swooping in on and arresting 14 suspects.

It follows a multifaceted law-enforcement operation in response to multiple community complaints.

Cops nab 14 after illicit mining bust

According to police information, the suspects, all Zimbabwean nationals — aged between 26 and 51 — will make their first appearance in the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court on Thursday, 15 August 2024.

They were charged with illegal possession of unwrought precious metals and contravening the Immigration and Environmental Acts.

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Police spokesperson Captain Lloyd Ramovha said the Hawks' Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit, based in the West Rand, descended on the illegal facilities with a search warrant at about 10:00.

"The hive of activity on either side of the R554 road was immediately halted. Police recovered tonnes of soil [containing] gold-bearing material worth over R2.5 million," said Ramovha.

The Provincial Head of the Hawks in Gauteng, Major General Ebrahim Kadwa, praised the multidisciplinary team effort.

"Such facilities, especially in residential areas, pose a health and environmental risk. Using cyanide to extract gold in an unregulated environment is disasterous. [The adverse] impact of the illegal activities on the economy [is detrimental]," Kadwa said.

The South African Police Service's (SAPS) Tactical Response Team (TRT), the health and [community] safety departments, Gauteng Traffic Police, Home Affairs, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy and the South African Diamond and Precious Metals Regulator formed part of the operation.

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Tshwane metro cops impound 917 cars

In related news, Briefly News reported that impounded vehicles yielded revenue of R2 million in the City of Tshwane in July alone, a welcome boost to the local economy.

This is as recent by-law enforcement efforts by the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) paid handsome dividends, according to TimesLIVE.

Source: Briefly News