The Free State police, through their “Vala Umgodi” agents, have continued to operate across towns throughout the province, leading to the arrest of 195 suspects involved in a wide range of crimes.
The arrests were made for offences including bribery, possession of drugs, trespassing, possession of illicit cigarettes, contravention of the Immigration Act, possession of gold-bearing material, and illicit mining.
On Sunday, 17 August, operatives, in a collaborative effort with the Department of Home Affairs, conducted a disruptive operation in Virginia and Meloding.
During a search of a salon, a 32-year-old woman was identified as an illegal foreign national and was later arrested. Two other individuals were also taken into custody after their documents were verified as fraudulent by Home Affairs personnel.
Mandrax, crystal Meth, and Rock were discovered.
The team then proceeded to search sleeping quarters at the back of a complex. In three units occupied by undocumented foreign nationals, drugs including Mandrax, crystal meth, and rock with an estimated street value of R150 000 were discovered. Three suspects, comprising two foreign nationals and a woman, were arrested for the possession of drugs and contravention of the Immigration Act.
In a separate operation in Meloding, two undocumented foreign nationals were arrested after being found inside tuck shops. All seven suspects arrested in Virginia and Meloding face charges ranging from possession of drugs to contravention of the Immigration Act.
A proactive team was also deployed to a mine where three undocumented men were observed engaging in illicit mining activities. They were arrested, and a quantity of what is believed to be gold-bearing material was seized.
On 16 August, two teams (VOC 1 and VOC 2) conducted disruptive operations in Viljoenskroon and Hoopstad. These operations resulted in the arrest of 12 undocumented foreign nationals found at various tuck shops in the two towns. Additionally, a 45-year-old foreign national was arrested after being found in his tuck shop with illicit cigarettes.
Also on 16 August, a combat team on patrol in Ventersburg arrested a foreign national on the N1 who was hitchhiking to Cape Town. A second charge of corruption was added after he attempted to bribe the police with R500.
In another operation on 16 August in Virginia, a team working in collaboration with mine security arrested three suspects, aged between 28 and 37. The suspects were found on mine premises engaged in illicit mining activities, and were in possession of gold-bearing material and illegal gold processing equipment.
The multi-disciplinary operations in the Lejweleputswa towns and surrounding municipalities are ongoing. All suspects are expected to appear in their respective magistrates’ courts soon.
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