Foreign nationals arrested by Operation Vala Umgodi

Operation Vala Umgodi resulted in the arrests of male foreign nationals suspected of engaging in illegal mining activities on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, inside dump holes at Molati hamlet, near Letsitele, in the Mopani District.

The police seized stolen alcohol, illicit cigarettes, dagga valued at approximately R50, 000 along with cash amounting to R10.696.77 and two laptops.

Arrested foreign nationals suspected to be Zimbabwean

The suspect was driving a white Toyota Combi bearing Zimbabwean car registration numbers which was confiscated for investigative purposes.

Another illegal miner arrested

Separately, an investigation into illegal sand mining at Moletjie has been initiated by the Police in Seshego following the discovery of an abandoned white Mercedes Benz and red Isuzu tipper truck loaded with sand after suspects fled on foot.

Sand found

The police also confiscated mining equipment that included ten shovels and three picks. One suspect who was found mining sand illegally was arrested.

On Friday, March 15, 2024, the detained suspects are scheduled to appear before a number of magistrate’s courts.

Red truck with sand

Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, the Provincial Commissioner for Limpopo, expressed gratitude to the participating teams for their cooperative efforts.

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