On April 23, a Crime Intelligence Unit operation led to the discovery of a house in Barberton that was being used as an illegal gold processing plant.

The received information about illegal activities taking place at the site and raided it.

They found chemicals, gold processing equipment and large quantities of gold-bearing material at the laboratory, as well as two unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

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It is suspected that the house has been used for the illegal processing, melting and refinery of gold-bearing ore.

Two suspects, aged 51 and 52, were arrested on charges of the contravention of Precious Metals Act and for possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

They are expected to appear in the Barberton Magistrate’s Court on April 28.

More arrests are expected as investigations continue.

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The acting provincial commissioner of the Mpumalanga SAPS, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, congratulated the team for their efforts.

“This is a breakthrough as our operations are targeting the value chain of illegal mining. It is crucial that we dismantle illegal mining infrastructure while we arrest illegal miners,” he said.

Mkhwanazi believes that the discovery and dismantling of the illegal gold processing laboratory is a major breakthrough in the fight against organised crime in the province.