SA Police on a mission to permanently thwart illegal mining
Following an August 18 update that revealed the dangers of illicit mining activities in the Florida community in South Africa, extra police operations were performed to address illegal mining.
Up until August 21, several units were deployed to multiple locations where suspected illegal mining took place. The focus points of these operations were illegal mining, illegal immigrants, robbery aggravated, second-hand goods, contact crimes, and drugs, and were executed in high-risk areas such as CRG Mines, Randleases Hostel, Fleurhof, New Canada, Jerusalema and Eitemal.
Several arrests were made.
About six illegal immigrants were arrested and illegal mining equipment was seized at Jerusalema, including one water pump, one electric motor, four pendukas, two stamper buckets and three stampers.
On August 17 two drug-related arrests were made. Forty brown-folded plastics with suspected heroin and nyaope were also confiscated.
On August 18 one drug-related arrest was made, and five Zimbabwean and Lesotho nationals saw their trip to South Africa cut short as they were arrested in connection with illegal immigration. The bomb disposal specialist unit uncovered 23 shock explosive tubes and five detonator cords. Illegal mining equipment was also seized during this operation in Jerusalema.
Several other arrests were made in connection with theft, firearm pointing, and armed robbery during stop and searches.