Police continues fighting illegal mining

This morning Roodepoort Police and Metro Police (JMPD) continued their fight against illegal mining in the community with a joint operation.

They were assisted by Joburg Water in disconnecting water connections to ‘shack’ shells where illegal mining operations take place. These shacks were also bulldozed and mining holes were filled with the help of vehicles and equipment from the mining industry.

According to Colonel André Laing the police also confiscated a significant amount of half-processed gold dust in the process. Buckets of the dust were loaded into a police van, and he said it would be handed over to local mines to officially rid of it. He explained this dust, once processed, is usually taken to dumps where illegal miners get well compensated for their efforts, fueling the illegal activity.

The operation follows a routine inspection at the site yesterday where one suspect was found with three firearms and subsequently arrested. Explosives were also found and confiscated.

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Also read: An inside look at illegal mining

Illegal mining ravaging Durban Deep

Clamp down on illegal mining continues

Illegal Matholisville mining thwarted

Illegal mining receives a blow

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