Hawks clamps down 20 illegal miners
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Photos: Supplied/Hawks
Efforts to get rid of illegal mining in the country yielded good results in the North West Province on Monday following the arrest of 20 suspects.
Hawks Spokesperson Captain Colonel Katlego Mogale said the North West Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation assisted by members of the Hawks’ Tactical Management Section, Special Task Force, National Intervention Unit, District Illegal Mining Task Team, Tactical Response Team, Bidvest Protea Coin, and Harmony Gold mine embarked on an early morning raid at a mine shaft in Stilfontein on 10 October 2022.
“The operation follows weeks of surveillance into the alleged illegal mining activities of the suspects resulting in the arrest of twenty (20) suspects and the seizure of fifteen (15) AK47s, six (6) hunting rifles, two (2) shotguns and one (1) R5, boxes full of ammunition, explosives and an undisclosed amount of money.”
“The operation is ongoing and we cannot rule out the possibility of more arrests and more seizures.”
Colonel Mogale added that the suspects are due to make their first court appearance at Stilfontein Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday 12 October 2022.
They are facing preliminary charges of conspiracy to commit robbery to with gold, possession of prohibited firearms, possession of ammunition and contravention of the immigration act.
