Police in Mpumalanga arrested two suspects at a house in Barberton allegedly used as an illegal gold processing laboratory. Officers recovered chemicals, gold processing equipment, gold-bearing materials, and two unlicensed firearms with ammunition. Provincial police spokesperson Mavela Masondo confirmed the details of the raid.
Police in Mpumalanga province raided a house in Barberton, uncovering an alleged illegal gold processing lab. Two suspects were arrested on site during the operation, which was assisted by intelligence structures.
In the garage of the house, officers found large quantities of gold-bearing materials, along with equipment used to process gold and various chemicals. The suspects were also in possession of two unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
Mavela Masondo, the provincial police spokesperson, described the findings: “Inside the house in the garage we found the large quantities of gold bearing materials we also found equipment that is used to process gold, further more we found two unlicensed firearms obviously it was an illegal gold processing lab to put it that way, so both suspects were arrested and they were charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm.”
The arrests target ongoing illegal mining activities in the region. The suspects face charges related to the unlicensed firearms.
