By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
24 November 2024- Four men aged between 33 and 52, were arrested by the police duirng Operation Vala Umgodi in the Namakwa District. This comes after they were allegedly found to be in possession of suspected illegal diamonds.
According to the Northern Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Merapelo Pilane, the multi-disciplinary team of Operation Vala Umgodi, comprising of proactive and combat teams of South Africa Police Service (SAPS) and South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in the Namakwa District, received a tip-off regarding vehicles transporting alleged illegal miners from Koingnaas to Kleinzee on the R355 road during the early hours of Friday morning, 22 November 2024.
“The information was tactically operationalised and one of the vehicles was spotted along the R355 road, while the other one was intercepted while trying to evade the police. Upon searching the two vehicles, 25 suspected unpolished diamonds were found and confiscated.
“Four suspects were subsequently arrested. They were also found to be in contravention of the Immigration Laws,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola, welcomed the tireless efforts by Operation Vala Umgodi in combating illegal mining activities in the province. Otola said the members of the public are encouraged to report any criminal activities through the Mysaps App, or the 80600 10111 crime stop number.
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