Local News
Dozens arrested for illicit mining─── 08:49 Sat, 22 Sep 2018
A group of 25 suspects, including foreign nationals from three Southern Africa countries, was arrested in the Free State during a four-day operation this week.
Police spokesperson Stephen Thakeng tells OFM News the suspects arrested include Zimbabweans, Mozambiquans and Lesotho nationals.
They were arrested for being in the position of, among others, illicit mining equipment and for fraud.
Thakeng says they were arrested in a joint operation comprising members of the Welkom Public Order Policing Reaction Team, Welkom K9 Unit and Provincial Crime Intelligence Task Team.
He says the operation led to the seizure of gold dust, apparatus used to process gold, counterfeit money and two new superbikes and firearms.
He adds the operation was conducted Tuesday to Friday, and targeted Odendaalsrus, Virginia, Thabong and Welkom.
The arrested suspects will appear in these towns' Magistrate Courts on Tuesday.
Lucky Nkuyane/OFM News
Police spokesperson Stephen Thakeng:
