A whopping 1,857 suspects were arrested for illegal mining activities in April 2025, alone.
The police said through the operation, more than 100 unpolished diamonds, which include suspected diamond stones, were seized, from Kleinzee and Port Nolloth, in the Northern Cape.
Other items seized during VALA UMGODI operations in April 2025, are 27 unlicensed firearms; 385 rounds of ammunition; 71 vehicles that include sedans, bakkies, trucks, big mining machineries, trailers, and tractors, 341 phendukas and 6 phenduka stands.
During that month, about 290 detonators were also seized, in the Free State, unground Kopanong mine.
Five suspects were found in possession of R1.5 million worth of Eskom property in the Empangeni and Mtunzini policing precincts on 06 April 2025.
Lieutenant Colonel Amanda van Wyk said in a statement, more than 20,000 suspects were arrested while over 600 firearms, and 14,000 rounds of ammunition, were seized, since December 2023.
Uncut diamonds worth more than R32 million are amongst various minerals recovered during these operations.