Six men were arrested in Port Nolloth after the police discovered unpolished diamonds and cash during a raid on a residence.
Image: SAPS
A POLICE crackdown in Port Nolloth netted a major haul after six suspected illegal miners were caught with unpolished diamonds and cash hidden at a residence in Sizamile.
Northern Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Timothy Sam said that the arrest, made on Monday, April 28, came after the Operation Vala Umgodi team received a tip-off while conducting community outreach activities in nearby Komaggas.
Armed with intelligence, officers moved quickly to raid the identified property, uncovering the precious stones and an undisclosed sum of money during their search.
The six men, aged between 18 and 33, were unable to produce valid immigration documents and were taken into custody. They now face charges related to the possession of unpolished diamonds and violations of immigration laws.
Authorities hailed the operation as a “major breakthrough” in the ongoing battle against illegal mining and the illicit diamond trade in the Northern Cape.
Meanwhile, Sergeant Sam encouraged residents to continue supporting crime-fighting efforts by reporting suspicious activity through the Crime Stop number 08600 10111 or via the MySAPS app.
Six men were arrested in Port Nolloth after the police discovered unpolished diamonds and cash during a raid on a residence.
Image: SAPS
The police seized an undisclosed amount of cash during the raid.
Image: SAPS
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