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Illegal miners.
Police in Theunissen in the Free State have intercepted food items intended for underground illegal miners.
They arrested six people, including three men aged between 29 and 64, as well as three women aged between 18 and 51 while they were busy with food packaging.
They discovered 2 500 cans of energy drinks, 2 600 tins of corned meat, 2 600 packets of instant porridge and 2 000 packets of powdered milk.
It is alleged that, underground, 340 grams of Mageu costs R200 while 1kg of biltong costs R1 500.
Police spokesperson Thabo Covane says, “A joint team of South African Police Service (SAPS) and South African National Defense Force (SANDF) members deployed for operation Vala Umgodi in the Free State are currently busy processing a scene where packaged foodstuffs intended to be delivered and dropped for underground illegal miners were found. The team searched the premises and discovered that the house was under surveillance with highly sophisticated cameras which can be monitored from another location. A case docket of conspiracy to commit crime of illicit mining and aiding illegal underground miners was opened at Theunissen Police Station. The suspects will appear in court soon.”
