EMPD pounce on zama zamas

During the continued monitoring of illegal mining hotspots in the area, members from the EMPD Tracing Unit apprehended the men on Saturday.

The EMPD members noticed a red Ford Fiesta with four male occupants driving along New Modder Road at around 5am.

When the metro police instructed the vehicle to stop, three of the occupants alighted the vehicle and ran in different directions.

EMPD spokesman Chief Supt Wilfred Kgasago says their freedom was short-lived when they could not outrun the metro police officers and they were arrested, along with the car’s driver.

Two bags of gold dust were found in the vehicle.

Kgasago says the trio who attempted to evade capture are Zimbabwean nationals.

After the driver directed them to his house at an address in Welgedacht, Springs, metro police officers found 15 gold nuggets, an explosive device as

well as R21 000 in cash.

The 26-year-old and his three accomplices, in their late teens, were charged at Benoni Police Station for illegal possession of an explosive device and illegal possession of gold nuggets.

All the confiscated items were booked in at the police station.

A clerk of the Benoni Magistrate’s Court says the suspects will appear in court today (Friday).