The discovery of mining equipment, unlicensed firearms and a large amount of ammunition led to the arrest of 97 people as well as a farm owner (62) for illegal mining in Heidelberg.

A national multidisciplinary team established to clamp-down on illicit mining activities, led to the arrests today.

Police spokesperson Colonel Athlenda Mathe says mining equipment and implements as well as unlicensed firearms and 570 rounds of ammunition were seized.

The firearms have been taken in for ballistic testing to determine if they were used in any other crimes.

During the arrests the police discovered that the suspects, all between the ages of 18 and 35, are all Lesotho nationals and majority were in the country illegally.

“The farm owner has also been arrested after he too was found with illegal ammunition and gold bearing equipment.”

The suspects will appear before the Heidelberg Magistrate’s Court on a charge of illegal mining, being in the country illegally, human trafficking, possession of explosives and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

The team who are responsible for this latest success include members of the National Intervention Unit (NIU), Tactical Response Teams (TRT), Public Order Police (POP), Crime Intelligence and Detectives, Bomb Disposal specialists as well as private stakeholders.