PIGG’S PEAK – Police are searching for a Zimbabwean national believed to be the mastermind behind the organised unlawful mining of gold.
The Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) has identified the suspect as a 35-year-old Brighton Karimatoro, who is wanted for allegedly contravening the Mines and Minerals Act No. 4 of 2011.
Investigations have revealed that Karimatoro is suspected of organising and assembling teams of illegal miners, commonly referred to as zama zamas, and supplying specialised equipment unlawfully used to detect and extract gold from abandoned mine shafts.
Information gathered by investigators suggests that the suspect coordinated the use of gold tracking devices capable of detecting deposits beneath the ground, which allegedly led to the opening of new shafts adjacent to the old ones.
Police further suspect that he oversaw the digging and processing of gold at a makeshift processing site constructed near the mine, before the mineral was allegedly smuggled out of the country for sale.
The hunt for Karimatoro follows a series of arrests made during the ongoing crackdown.
Recently, three alleged illegal miners — two Zimbabwean nationals, Levious Magebuza (26) and Abel Ncube (29), and a South African national, Sakhile Nkosi (26) were arrested during a police raid conducted on January 28.
The trio appeared before the Pigg’s Peak Magistrates Court facing charges of contravening the Mines and Minerals Act.
They were allegedly found in possession of 12 kilogrammes of Green Chert stones believed to contain gold deposits, as well as mining implements suspected to have been used in the illegal operations.
They were remanded in custody pending further investigations and forensic analysis of the seized materials.
The arrests form part of a broader high-tactical deployment launched by REPS in northern Hhohho to dismantle illegal mining networks that authorities say have deprived the country of millions of Emalangeni in mineral revenue.
During the operation, police dismantled and confiscated equipment found at the site and have since deployed officers to guard the area against continued unlawful activity.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that some illegal miners may still be hiding underground for fear of arrest as police maintain their presence at the old mine.
Meanwhile, police have appealed to members of the public to assist in locating Karimatoro.
Anyone with information that may lead to his arrest is urged to contact the Hhohho Crime Branch Officer Junior Dlamini on 7606 7447, Pigg’s Peak District Officer Inspector J. Motsa on 7605 8445 or Investigating Officer Detective Constable Nkambule on 7605 3682. Members of the public may also call the emergency lines 999 or 9999.
Police have vowed that the operation will continue until all illegal mining activities in the area are completely dismantled and those responsible are brought before the courts.
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