THE Hawks have made a major breakthrough after they confiscated 24 firearms from the notorious zama zamas in North West.
The firearms include assault rifles such as AK-47 and hunting rifles.
A total of 20 zama zamas were also arrested in the process.
Hawks spokeswoman Colonel Katlego Mogale said in a continuous fight against illegal mining, the North West Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation assisted by members of the Hawks’ Tactical Management Section, Special Task Force, National Intervention Unit, District Illegal Mining Task Team, Tactical Response Team, Bidvest Protea Coin and Harmony Gold mine embarked on an early morning raid at a mine shaft in Stilfontein on Monday, 10 October.
Mogale said: “The operation follows weeks of surveillance into the alleged illegal mining activities of the suspects resulting in the arrest of 20 suspects and the seizure of 15 AK47s, six hunting rifles, two shotguns and one R5, boxes full of ammunition, explosives and an undisclosed amount of money. The operation is ongoing and we cannot rule out the possibility of more arrests and more seizures.”
The national head for the Directorate for Priority Crime In
vestigation, Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya, has lauded the excellent arrests and seizures by the multidisciplinary team and warned that this is only the beginning.
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The suspects are expected to make their first appearance in the Stilfontein Magistrates Court on Wednesday, 12 October where they will be facing preliminary charges of conspiracy to commit robbery with gold, possession of prohibited firearms, possession of ammunition and contravention of the Immigration Act.
