Illegal miners caught red-handed

Northam – Eleven suspects, charged with illegal mining, were arrested at the Chromnet mine in Northam on Thursday 27 January.

A joint team comprising the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation and Public Order Police members caught the highly organised and equipped team in the act of mining chrome illegally at Chromnet.

Two TLBs and one horse-truck with two trailers worth more than R3 million were seized during the operation. While the police were busy impounding the vehicles, they were apparently approached by a man who identified himself as the owner of the TLBs. He allegedly offered the police a R15,000 bribe to release his vehicles. He was arrested on the spot. 

The suspects appeared before the Northam Magistrates’ Court on Friday 28 January. They appeared before the same court on 4 February for formal bail application. Five of them were granted bail of R2,000 each, one person was granted bail of R1,000 and five of the suspects’ request for bail were denied.

The task team is busy investigating other illegal mining operations in the area.

#FosteringASenseOfCommunity