Sixteen alleged illegal miners were arrested during a multi-disciplinary operation by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation assisted by the North West Airwing, Explosives unit, Cluster IMTT, Public Order Policing, Tactical Response Team, Crime Prevention unit, Local Criminal Record Centre and the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy.
The team followed up on information regarding the alleged illegal mining activities at Quest mine which is situated just off Buffeldoorn road.
Sixteen alleged illegal miners were flushed out from underground leading to their subsequent arrest.
The elaborate illegal mining activities were allegedly operated through a heavy duty industrial generator, whilst supplemented by other smaller generators which were strategically located at multiple processing stations for gold bearing material.
During the operation two firearms were seized, explosive cartridges, detonating cords, capped fuses, four generators and illegal mining paraphernalia which consisted of 23 buckets of gold bearing material, electric mills, heavy duty electrical equipment, water pumps and diesel. In addition, large amounts of food was also seized.
The suspects will make their first appearance before the Stilfontein Magistrate’s Court on 23 February 2023.
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