Foreigner arrested for illegal mining in Mopani

A 42-year-old foreign national was arrested for illegal mining of sand at the Mulati illegal mining site in Mopani, Limpopo, on Tuesday.  The man from Zimbabwe was nabbed for contravention of the immigration act during Operations Vala Umgodi.

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The arrests came after members received intelligence, which they quickly operationalised. The leads were followed to the identified illegal mining site. A group of suspects were spotted busy mining sand, and when approached, they ran in different directions in the bushes.

POLICE ARRESTED ONE SUSPECT IN MOPANI’S ILLEGAL MINING OF SAND

The suspect was arrested after he failed to produce a permit to mine sand. As a foreign national from Zimbabwe, he was without a passport to be in the country.   

During the arrest, Police confiscated the following items: Cash amount of R350, Cell phone [Mobicell] black in colour, bag of sand, Spade, LED headlamp, Iron bar, Buckets, Blue work suit top and Batteries.

Provincial Commissioner of the Police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has commended the members for working effortlessly in ensuring that the illegal mining activities are eliminated across the province. The man will soon appear before the local Magistrate’s Court.