By Zuko Komisa
On July 18, 2022, 97 illegal Lesotho nationals and a 62-year-old farm owner were detained in Heidelberg, Gauteng, for a variety of offences.
All suspects, according to the South African Police Service (SAPS), will appear in court in Heidelberg on allegations of illegally mining, entering the country without authorization, possessing explosives, and illegally possessing weapons and ammunition, among other things.
Ballistic testing of the firearms has been done to see whether they were used in any other crimes. The farm owner was also found with illegal ammunition and gold-bearing equipment.
“Upon further interrogation and inspection, the team seized mining equipment and implements. It was also discovered that all the suspects, between the ages of 18 and 35, are all 97 Lesotho nationals and majority were in the country illegally.
“Three unlicensed firearms and 570 rounds of ammunition were also seized,” read a statement released by the South African Police Service (SAPS)
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According to the SAPS, the team responsible for the bust include members of the National Intervention Unit (NIU), Tactical Response Teams(TRT), Public Order Police(POP), Crime Intelligence and Detectives, Bomb Disposal specialists and private stakeholders.
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