Three houses and four vehicles belonging to a suspected illicit gold mining kingpin have been confiscated by the Hawks\u2019 Priority Crime Specialised Investigation (PCSI) team and the National Prosecuting Authority\u2019s Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These teams successfully secured a forfeiture order for the houses of the accused Max Nelson Mlambo (38). Two of these are in Welkom, and the other in Odendaalrsrus, in addition to the four vehicles, namley a Toyota SUV, a Ford Fiesta, a Chevrolet Sonic, and a Hyundai ix35. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
They also confiscated cash to the amount of R545 300. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The preservation order comes after Mlambo was arrested on 15 November 2021 by members of the provincial Hawks\u2019 Serious Organised Crime unit during the termination of a project-driven investigation. The project which had begun in July 2018, was aimed at disrupting and dismantling the identified threat of illicit mining in the Welkom and Thabong areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vista <\/span>previously reported that an intensive investigation began in July 2018 and ended with the arrest in 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Capt. Christopher Singo, provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, said the order granted by the Free State High Court resulted in an intensive investigation into an illegal mining cartel in which Mlambo was arrested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe action that started in July 2018 had the aim of dismantling illegal mining in the Welkom and Thabong area,\u201d said Singo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The criminal case against Mlambo is ongoing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Three houses and four vehicles belonging to a suspected illicit gold mining kingpin have been confiscated by the Hawks\u2019 Priority Crime Specialised Investigation (PCSI) team and the National Prosecuting Authority\u2019s Asset Forfeiture Unit 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