Interpol cracks down on illegal mining in West Africa as police make 200 arrests
2 months, 1 week ago

Interpol cracks down on illegal mining in West Africa as police make 200 arrests

Associated Press  

PARIS — Interpol said Tuesday a major operation targeting illegal gold mining in West Africa has resulted in 200 arrests and the seizure of harmful chemicals, explosives and drugs. The operation spanned Burkina Faso, Gambia, Guinea and Senegal, exposing extensive networks behind the illicit practice, which causes widespread environmental damage and poses serious health risks. Illegal mining is common in South Africa, where companies abandon unprofitable mines, leaving informal miners to extract leftover deposits illegally. The West African police action, known as Operation Sanu, also marked a first for tackling illegal sand mining in Gambia.

Mining West Africa Operation Illegal Interpol  gold  south  cracks  africa  miners  interpol  operation  mining  arrests  used  200  seizure  illegal  resulted  west

History of this topic

7 illegal miners killed in shootout with army in Ghana gold mine
2 months, 1 week ago

7 illegal miners killed in shootout with army in Ghana gold mine

India Today  

A Ghanaian small-scale miners' association on Sunday said soldiers killed nine unarmed people at an AngloGold Ashanti mine on Saturday night, while the army said seven illegal miners had been killed in a firefight. Kofi Adams, local chairman of the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners, told Reuters that nine people had been killed and fourteen severely injured in …

South African miner describes horrors as people starved to death underground
2 months, 1 week ago

South African miner describes horrors as people starved to death underground

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. open image in gallery South Africa Dead Miners Police …

South African police lower cage into mine to check if anyone left after 78 died
Trending News
2 months, 1 week ago

South African police lower cage into mine to check if anyone left after 78 died

Hindustan Times  

By Siyabonga Sishi South African police lower cage into mine to check if anyone left after 78 died STILFONTEIN, South Africa, - South African police lowered a camera down more than a mile underground into an illegal gold mine on Thursday to ascertain if any survivors or corpses were still there after a months-long siege by authorities in which at …

Hundreds of miners became stuck underground. Why did police block their water supply?
2 months, 1 week ago

Hundreds of miners became stuck underground. Why did police block their water supply?

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The bodies of illegal miners …

Rescuers pull survivors from South Africa mine as hundreds remain trapped
2 months, 1 week ago

Rescuers pull survivors from South Africa mine as hundreds remain trapped

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Police said that at least 36 bodies and 82 …

South Africa’s police minister promises to clamp down on illegal mining
3 months, 3 weeks ago

South Africa’s police minister promises to clamp down on illegal mining

Al Jazeera  

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Senzo Mchunu says authorities do not know how many people are trapped in the disused goldmine in Stilfontein. Miners resurface in South Africa: Three teenagers tell of mistreatment underground South Africa’s police minister has pledged to rescue all the people still trapped in an abandoned goldmine in the northwestern town of Stilfontein “as soon …

Miners trapped underground in South Africa: What’s the latest?
4 months ago

Miners trapped underground in South Africa: What’s the latest?

Al Jazeera  

South African police this week arrested a group of 14 people who resurfaced from a gold mine that’s at the centre of a tense, weeks-long standoff between unauthorised miners and authorities in the northwestern town of Stilfontein. Informal miners have for decades combed once functional South African gold mines looking for gold deposits or other precious metal deposits. Officials prevented …

South African police maintain siege against 'illegal' underground miners despite court ordering access
4 months ago

South African police maintain siege against 'illegal' underground miners despite court ordering access

ABC  

Starving miners fearing arrest have spent months underground, blockaded by South African authorities who say they are cracking down on illegal operations. "So the police said, 'well, look, if we don't give them food for long enough, then if they surely they will come out'." Ms Mathe said "no police officer, no soldier or government official will go down to …

Operation ‘Close the Hole’: What to know about a standoff between police and trapped miners in South Africa
4 months ago

Operation ‘Close the Hole’: What to know about a standoff between police and trapped miners in South Africa

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy South African authorities are embroiled …

What to know about a standoff between police and illegal miners at a South Africa mine
4 months ago

What to know about a standoff between police and illegal miners at a South Africa mine

Associated Press  

JOHANNESBURG — South African authorities are embroiled in a standoff with an unconfirmed number of illegal miners who remain underground at an abandoned mine, apparently fearing arrest by police officers deployed at the site. Police and military join forces in operation “Close the Hole” Since last December, police, government agencies and the military have joined forces in an operation dubbed …

South Africa's Ramaphosa calls for safe recovery of illegal miners stuck underground
4 months, 1 week ago

South Africa's Ramaphosa calls for safe recovery of illegal miners stuck underground

Hindustan Times  

JOHANNESBURG, - South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Monday lives should not be put at risk in a standoff between police and hundreds of illegal miners stuck underground in a disused mine shaft and the miners should be recovered safely. South Africa's Ramaphosa calls for safe recovery of illegal miners stuck underground The police have blocked miners' supplies of …

Court orders South Africa police to end mine stand-off
4 months, 1 week ago

Court orders South Africa police to end mine stand-off

CNN  

CNN — A South African court ordered police to end a standoff with illegal miners and allow emergency workers to gain access to a shaft where hundreds are believed to be holed up. On Friday, the South African Human Rights Commission said in a statement it was investigating the police for restricting the miners’ essential supplies. The South African Police …

Illegal gold miners stranded underground by South Africa government
4 months, 1 week ago

Illegal gold miners stranded underground by South Africa government

ABC  

The South African government says it will not help a group of illegal miners inside a closed mine in the country's north-west province who have been denied access to basic supplies as part of an official strategy against illegal mining. Miners stay underground for months South African ministers of police and defence were expected to visit the mine to engage …

South African police in standoff with hundreds of illegal miners in disused shaft
4 months, 1 week ago

South African police in standoff with hundreds of illegal miners in disused shaft

Hindustan Times  

JOHANNESBURG, - South African police were in a standoff on Thursday with hundreds of illegal miners believed to be underground in a disused shaft, a day after a cabinet minister said the government was trying to "smoke them out". South African police in standoff with hundreds of illegal miners in disused shaft Police have been trying for weeks to empty …

'No help to criminals': South Africa refuses to help 4,000 workers trapped in illegal mines
4 months, 1 week ago

'No help to criminals': South Africa refuses to help 4,000 workers trapped in illegal mines

Firstpost  

South Africa’s government has refused help to around 4,000 illegal miners trapped in a closed mine in as part of its ‘close the hole’ operation aimed at ending illegal mining South Africa’s government says it will not help about 4,000 illegal miners inside a closed mine in the country’s North West province as part of an official policy against illegal …

South Africa says it won’t help 4,000 miners running out of food inside closed mine
4 months, 1 week ago

South Africa says it won’t help 4,000 miners running out of food inside closed mine

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The government in South Africa …

South Africa’s government won’t help the illegal miners inside a closed mine
4 months, 1 week ago

South Africa’s government won’t help the illegal miners inside a closed mine

Associated Press  

JOHANNESBURG — South Africa’s government says it won’t help a group of illegal miners inside a closed mine in the country’s North West province who have been denied access to basic supplies as part of an official strategy against illegal mining. Mathe said they had information that the miners may be heavily armed, adding that since embarking on operations against …

Hundreds of illegal miners holed up in disused shaft in South Africa. Here’s what we know
4 months, 1 week ago

Hundreds of illegal miners holed up in disused shaft in South Africa. Here’s what we know

CNN  

CNN — Several hundred people are believed to remain in an illegal mine in South Africa after the government cut off vital supplies and refused to help them, in a dramatic bid to crack down on the industry. South Africa’s Federation of Trade Unions said it was “extremely concerned” that the situation “may end in a tragedy.” “Cutting off food …

Nigeria is emerging as a critical mineral hub. The government is cracking down on illegal operations
10 months ago

Nigeria is emerging as a critical mineral hub. The government is cracking down on illegal operations

Associated Press  

ABUJA, Nigeria — Nigeria’s government is cracking down on illegal mining, making dozens of arrests of unlicensed miners since April for allegedly stealing the country’s lithium, a critical mineral used in batteries for electric vehicles, smartphones and power systems. Jimoh Bioku, a Kishi community leader, said there had been “clandestine searches” for the mineral at remote sites tucked away in …

South Africa turns to army in nationwide clampdown on illegal mining
1 year, 4 months ago

South Africa turns to army in nationwide clampdown on illegal mining

Al Jazeera  

As many as 3,300 army personnel will take part in an ‘intensified’ operation to curb illegal mining across South Africa. South Africa’s president has ordered thousands of military personnel to assist in a nationwide operation against illegal mining, an activity that is estimated to cost the country billions of dollars each year. The president’s spokesman Vincent Magwenya announced on Thursday …

Police: 21 bodies found at mine in South Africa
2 years, 4 months ago

Police: 21 bodies found at mine in South Africa

Associated Press  

JOHANNESBURG — South African police are investigating the discovery of at least 21 bodies suspected of being illegal miners that were found near an active mine in the town of Krugersdorp, west of Johannesburg. The Sowetan newspaper reported that the bodies were those of illegal miners who died when a tunnel at a different mine collapsed, although police declined to …

South Africa: Nine illegal miners stoned to death in ‘barbaric attack’
5 years, 1 month ago

South Africa: Nine illegal miners stoned to death in ‘barbaric attack’

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Nine Lesotho nationals, who were reportedly involved in illegal …

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