The Joint Law Enforcement Forces through a high-density Operation Vala Umgodi have nabbed illegal miners and confiscated mining equipment in Limpopo.
It is reported that members of the SAPS Tactical Response Team and Public Order Police Unit during their Disruptive Operation Vala Umgodi on Tuesday, 23 April 2024, arrested a 38-year-old male suspect for illegal sand mining at Seshego outside Polokwane in Capricorn District.
According to the information available at this stage, it is reported that the Police spotted the suspect while digging sand without having a mining permit and loading into a white Isuzu tipper truck.
The Police have confiscated a white Isuzu tipper truck with shovels, picks and panga at the said illegal sand mining sites that are believed to be used for illegal mining activities.
In addition, the Police Task Team comprising the National Intervention Unit, Public Order Police, Tactical Response Team in collaboration with the members of the SANDF in Sekhukhune District have on Tuesday, 23 April 2024 during their tour of Operation Vala Umgodi confiscated abandoned mining equipment that included a white tipper truck and a yellow CAT TLB front loader following a chase that ensued between the multi-disciplinary forces and the suspects at Atok on illegal mining sites.
In separate incidents, the Joint Law Enforcement Forces that included various SAPS units, Tactical Response Team, Public Order Police, National Intervention Unit and Border Police Team with the SANDF as well as Immigration Officers from the Department of Home Affairs through a Disruptive Operation arrested a total number of 15 undocumented persons on Tuesday 23 April 2024, in Sekhukhune and Waterberg Districts including the Beitbridge Port of Entry for contravention of the Immigration Act.
The foreign nationals individuals arrested for contravention of the Immigration Act were processed for direct deportation by the Immigration Officers back to their countries of origin.
The suspects are expected to appear at their respective magistrate’s court facing charges of illegal mining and contravention of Immigration Act.
Joint law enforcement high-density Operation Vala Umgodi nabbed illegal miners and confiscated mining equipment https://t.co/r4BRUm3nxx#ArriveAlive #Operation #IllegalMining @SAPoliceService @TruckAndFreight pic.twitter.com/mhRKFScdkU
– Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) April 25, 2024