UPDATE: Operation Fiela – About 55 illegal immigrants arrested in eMba

eMBALENHLE – Operation Fiela was in a full swing in this township on Friday, 8 May.

About 55 illegal immigrants were arrested, two illegal liquor shops were closed down and gold bearing material was recovered.

This initiative is a result of Government’s analyses whereby it was decided there was an urgent need to take additional steps in order to inter departmentally manage the scourge of unrest and related actions taking place in the country.

This multi-disciplinary operation includes various police disciplines, the SANDF, the Department of Home Affairs, the traffic department and the Secunda Cluster Police.

Brig Rudolph Adolph said: “It is aimed at eliminating criminal elements in the community and make neighbourhoods safer.

“We all know that this is a mining area and illegal mining is one of the key crimes in the area.”

The SANDF surrounded the Mandela Section where it is believed that many of the illegal miners and immigrants reside.

Many of the alleged illegal immigrants and miners were found hiding under beds and in wardrobes and some locked themselves in toilets.

Police also raided foreign nationals’ tuck shops and illegal cigarettes, SIM cards, 267 skin lighting products and fireworks were confiscated.

Residents commended the police on the raids.

They said many of the youths usually gather at these shops and they suspect that is where they get drugs.

“This is a great initiative and we are sick and tired of the illegal miners who are perpetuate crime in our area.

“These people are very arrogant and all of us are scared of them because they carry dangerous weapons,” said a resident.

For the galley, click on this link https://www.citizen.co.za/ridge-times/35860/photo-gallery-operation-fiela-sweeps-through-embalenhle/