{"id":46728,"date":"2024-11-07T12:29:05","date_gmt":"2024-11-07T10:29:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/police-operations-continues-ridding-free-state-of-criminal-acts-20241029\/"},"modified":"2025-03-21T15:20:26","modified_gmt":"2025-03-21T13:20:26","slug":"police-operations-continues-ridding-free-state-of-criminal-acts-20241029","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/police-operations-continues-ridding-free-state-of-criminal-acts-20241029\/","title":{"rendered":"Police operations continues ridding Free State of criminal acts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Two more arrests have been made, and large amounts of contraband and drugs were seized during the continuing Operation Vala uMgodi actions in the Free State. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The combat team swept through Rheederpark, Phomolong, near Welkom, visiting drug posts and houses identified as targets for illegal mining activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div contenteditable=\"false\" data-embed24=\"Images\" data-pos=\"left\" id=\"embed_19094917\">\n<div class=\"slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" data-smallsrc=\"https:\/\/cdn.24.co.za\/files\/Cms\/General\/d\/12352\/a9bdd44788c4451f88bfc0c6750e754f.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/07977eaab9ec4062a892aa5240c5d1d6.jpg\" title=\"This food was intended for illegal underground miners, but was confiscated during Operation Vala uMgodi. Photo: SAPS\"><p><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\">This food was intended for illegal underground miners, but was confiscated during Operation Vala uMgodi. Photo: SAPS<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div contenteditable=\"false\" data-embed24=\"Images\" data-pos=\"left\" id=\"embed_246a7bae\">\n<div class=\"slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" data-smallsrc=\"https:\/\/cdn.24.co.za\/files\/Cms\/General\/d\/12352\/36745870f0d147108a95aeb976bcc11a.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/237423d89af24d60949dfcb536323bc7.jpg\" title=\"The police confiscated this cash that was received as payment by a man caught smuggling goods to illegal miners, during Operation Vala uMgodi. Photo: SAPS\"><p><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\">The police confiscated this cash that was received as payment by a man caught smuggling goods to illegal miners, during Operation Vala uMgodi. Photo: SAPS<\/div>\n<div class=\"img_accreditation\"><span class=\"source\" style=\"display:none;\"><\/span><span class=\"photographer\" style=\"display:none;\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>A 40-year-old man was arrested for being in possession of and dealing in dagga. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The police confiscated 94 small bankies, or zip lock plastics, containing dried leaves of dagga that were found at his residence. The dagga weighed 564 g with an estimated street value of R1 000. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Contraband goods and foodstuffs such as soya mince and biltong were seized from a 23-year-old contract worker at the Kopanang Mine. Further information led to the search of the suspect\u2019s living unit, where cash purportedly received as payment for smuggling food down the shaft was confiscated. A case of conspiracy to commit crime with additional charges of money laundering and assisting illegal miners was opened..<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Two more arrests have been made, and large amounts of contraband and drugs were seized during the continuing Operation Vala uMgodi actions in the Free 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