Caught red-handed in an illegal gold refinery in Sundra
The task team followed information about an illegal gold refinery laboratory that led them to Susan Avenue in Sundra.
The Provincial Head of the Hawks, Major General Nico Gerber, commended the excellent work of a multidisciplinary team that exposed an illegal gold refinery in Sundra.
The team that comprised the Middelburg-based Hawks, Middelburg Tactical Response Team, Middelburg K9 Unit, local Criminal Record Centre, Delmas Task Team, Department of Home Affairs, the Sundra Police, Crime Intelligence Head Office, Super Lab Springs and Springs Scrap Metal Group conducted an intelligence-driven operation in early morning hours of February 23.
The task team followed information about an illegal gold refinery that led them to Susan Avenue in Sundra.
When the team arrived at the small holding, the team found four men operating pendukas. The team managed to apprehend two foreign nationals, but two others escaped by running away.
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The team confiscated six pendukas, two small crushers, fresh soil that was just delivered, as well as the truck that delivered the soil for further investigation.
While busy processing the crime scene, the owner of the refinery arrived. Upon interviewing him, he was linked to the crime and was arrested.
The police summoned all relevant stakeholders to determine the value of the properties and the collection of samples for processing.
The suspects were charged with contravention of the Precious Metals Act and operating an illegal gold refinery. At the time of going to print, the trio was due to appear in the Delmas Magistrate’s Court on February 27.
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