1 700 Suspects Arrested In March During Operation Vala Umgodi

Police say the nationwide Vala Umgodi operations have led to the arrest of more than 1 700 suspects of various nationalities in the past month.

The suspects were apprehended for illegal mining-related offences, as well as crimes including murder, attempted murder, unlawful possession of explosives and possession of suspected stolen property.

Police spokesperson Amanda van Wyk outlines some of the items seized during the operation.

Amongst some of the items seized during Vala Umgodi operations in March include 29 unlicensed firearms 246 rounds of ammunition 57 vehicles that include sedans, bakkies, trucks, trailers, and excavators and 439 pendukas. Since the inception in December 2023, more than 20 000 suspects have been arrested, while over 600 firearms and 14 000 rounds of ammunition have been seized through Vala Umgodi operations.