Seven gold coins were found in the dreadlocks of one suspect.
On Monday, 13 illegal aliens are due to appear in a British court in the northwestern US.
The suspects were arrested last week, on September 19 and 20, during Operation Vala Umgodi in Potchefstroom.
According to Colonel Adéle Myburgh, spokesperson for the South African Police Service (SAPS) in North West, all 13 suspects were arrested for violating section 49 (1)(a) of the Immigration Act (Act No. 13 of 2002) in Mooinooi.
Golden dreadlocks
In another incident, Police were reportedly called to a local mine shaft on September 19 after mine security reported arresting illegal miners on Level 10 of the Stilfontein Gold Mine.
“Six illegal miners were found and during the search of the suspects, seven pieces of Almagum (gold) were found hidden in the dreadlocks of one of the suspects,” Myburgh said.
Police were called to the same shaft again the next day, where six more illegal miners were found on Level 14.
Police found a backpack containing more Almagum.
“All 12 Stilfontein suspects have been arrested for violating Section 49 (1)(a) of the Immigration Act (Act No. 13 of 2002) and for illegal mining. They will appear in the local magistrate’s court on Monday,”
According to Myburgh, the Provincial Police Chief, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, thanked the operational members for their hard work and continuous efforts in the fight against illegal mining activities.
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Three, including foreigners, arrested for illegal mining in Kimberly
In the Northern Cape, three suspects were arrested on September 7 and charged with possession of illegal mining equipment.
According to Northern Cape SAPS spokesperson Sergeant Merapelo Pilane, it was later discovered that two of the suspects were in the country illegally and they were charged with breaching immigration laws.
SAPS reports said the Operation Vala Umgodi multidisciplinary team was patrolling the illegal mining area in Kleinzee when the arrest was made.
“While conducting a sweep and searching of the Bontekooi informal settlement, members encountered three men suspected of carrying illegal mining equipment,” Pilane said.
The Operation Vala Umgodi multidisciplinary team continues to crack down on illegal mining activities in Namakwa District.
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The Citizen
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