| 2024/09/26 |
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Media Statement FREE STATE – The Free State Knockout Team’s fight against illicit mining continues in the same momentum as previous weeks. The successes of the Knockout Operations illustrate the SAPS’s commitment to maintaining law and order and protecting our natural resources in our efforts to combat illegal mining and the associated criminal activities. This multi-disciplinary operation’s focus remains on intelligence-driven strategies to dismantle illegal operations and ensure accountability for those involved. The team’s tactical approach has brought many suspects to book and most were arrested while in the act of illegal mining. For the past week, the team has arrested 59 suspects in cases such as trespassing, possession of gold-bearing material and illegal mining. 57 Of those are undocumented persons. On one occasion, the knockout team, together with private security, conducted illicit mining disruptive action near a local mine shaft and recovered bags filled with gold-bearing material. Two suspects were arrested. Members further arrested two males, aged 34 and 36, for possession of suspected stolen copper cables and possession of possible gold-bearing material at a mine in the Theunissen area. Another two men were arrested for possession of gold-bearing material. On another occasion, the team and private security conducted illicit mining disruptive action near a pipeline and recovered illicit mining equipment after the suspects left them abandoned. With the high number of undocumented persons arrested during the operation, most are being sentenced by the courts and taken back to their countries. The multi-disciplinary operation continues, running concurrently with other illicit mining operations.
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