Illegal miners captured on N12 camera; gold dust seized
The EMPD arrested seven illegal miners on Monday (August 31), some as young as 15 and 16 years old.
Traffic management cameras on the N12 highway near the Atlas off ramp detected a suspicious Isuzu bakkie with seven occupants unloading bags along the freeway at around 9am.
The freeway officers were alerted and together with the Equestrian and K9 Units were able to apprehend the suspects and confiscate bags of gold dust and equipment used in illegal mining.
“When the officers approached the bakkie, five of the men bolted and ran into the storm-water drain situated under the N12 freeway.
“Later, four of them came out of the drain and scaled a wall and ran into the bushes,” said EMPD spokesperson Supt Wilfred Kgasago.
Kgasago said the four were arrested when found hiding in the bushes and the fifth suspect was sniffed out of the drain by the K9 Unit.
The two men who were in the bakkie were also arrested.
Kgasago said five bags, weighing approximately 10kg each, were filled with gold dust and unprocessed rocks as well as various items of equipment used in illegal mining.
The suspects were charged at the Boksburg North police station with possession of illegally mined gold dust.
They are expected to appear in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court on September 1.
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