SAPS operation targets illegal mining rings in Low’s Creek, Sabie and Pilgrim’s Rest
A week-long blitz by multi-disciplinary police forces saw multiple arrests, confiscated firearms, and a deceased suspect found with an assault rifle.
Mpumalanga SAPS led a series of multidisciplinary operations from June 29 to July 5, focused heavily on known illegal mining hotspots in Pilgrim’s Rest, Sabie, and Low’s Creek.
According to police, the operations resulted in the arrest of several suspects on a variety of charges. These include illegal mining, contravention of the Immigration Act 13 of 2002, possession of suspected gold-bearing material and equipment, and unlawful possession of ammunition. Officers also confiscated a number of firearms.
In Low’s Creek, police recovered an AK-47 from a deceased individual. Authorities said the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s death and the weapon’s origin remain under active investigation. An abandoned vehicle was also discovered at the scene and seized by police.
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Detectives are collaborating with the Department of Home Affairs to verify the legal status of the foreign nationals among the arrested suspects.
