The Witness reports that a total of 216 suspects have been arrested in a major crackdown on illegal mining and related crimes during the SA Police Service’s (SAPS’) latest Vala Umgodi operations.
The arrests, made between 21 and 27July, spanned all nine provinces and formed part of SAPS’ intensified efforts to dismantle criminal syndicates driving illicit mining activities across the country. Details by province are contained in the news report. Alongside the arrests, police seized unlicensed firearms, explosives, and stolen property, delivering a significant blow to illegal mining networks. The Vala Umgodi operation is a multi-disciplinary initiative aimed at tackling the growing threat of illegal mining and the violent crime it fuels. Police said further arrests and confiscations were expected as operations continued.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kayla Shaw at The Witness
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