Arrests Made in Limpopo Illegal Gold Processing Operation

Three Zimbabweans and one Mozambican were arrested in Limpopo for operating an illegal gold processing lab. The suspects are linked to broader illegal mining activities, with police seizing various items used for processing minerals. Charges include illegal processing of materials and violation of immigration laws, highlighting the ongoing issue of illicit mining operations in South Africa.

Four individuals, including three Zimbabweans and one Mozambican, were apprehended for their involvement in an illegal gold processing operation near Tarentaalrand on the R71 in the Mopani District, Limpopo. This incident underscores the growing issue of unlawful gold mining in South Africa, where unprocessed minerals are illicitly traded through covert laboratories managed by criminal entities linked to organized mining networks.

The arrested suspects—Jonh Vondo (39), Hardlife Manjoko (35), Biggie Chimwero (36) from Zimbabwe, and Samuel Almeida Mashaba (46) from Mozambique—were presented before the Ritavi Magistrate’s Court on February 10. They are charged with the illegal processing of gold-bearing materials and were remanded in custody pending a bail hearing on February 18. Mashaba is additionally facing charges for violating the Immigration Act.

Colonel Malesela Ledwaba of the South African Police Service (SAPS) noted that the arrests stemmed from an intelligence-driven operation conducted by the Mopani District Vala Umgodi Task Team, in collaboration with Tactical Joint Operational Centre (TACJOC) detectives and drone pilots. Two of the suspects are purported to be key figures orchestrating illicit mining activities in the region.

In the police operation, law enforcement officials seized several items allegedly used for the illegal extraction of minerals. These included containers suspected to hold precious mineral residue, gas cylinders, sulfuric acid, and oxygen canisters. The authorities also confiscated two vehicles— a red Haval and a white Mercedes-Benz— which are believed to belong to the suspected kingpins.

The arrests of four suspects in Limpopo highlight the increasing challenge of illegal gold mining in South Africa, where such operations are often conducted by intricate networks of criminals. This operation not only involved the capture of key individuals but also the seizure of hazardous materials used in the processing of gold, shedding light on the consequences of illegal mining activities and the need for vigilant law enforcement measures.

Original Source: www.newzimbabwe.com