Police in Gauteng have arrested three people during an operation targeting suspected illegal mining activities in the De Deur area.

The arrests followed information received by members of the Sedibeng Flying Squad concerning suspected mining activity at a property in the Doornkuil area. Police officers responded to the information and carried out a targeted operation.

Upon reaching the site, officers reportedly found three men along with equipment believed to have been used for illegal mining. Authorities seized several specialised machines and bags containing material suspected to have been unlawfully extracted.

The three suspects include two Mozambican nationals and one South African national. All three were taken into police custody following the operation.

The seized equipment and suspected mining material were also taken into police possession as investigators began documenting the evidence connected with the case.

A case involving alleged illegal mining has been opened at the De Deur police station. Investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the activity and the possible involvement of the arrested individuals.

Illegal mining remains a major challenge in parts of South Africa, where unauthorised mining operations can create environmental damage, threaten community safety and contribute to wider criminal activity.

Operations such as the one in De Deur are intended to disrupt these activities by identifying illegal mining sites, removing specialised equipment and taking suspected offenders into custody.

Authorities are expected to continue investigations before the matter proceeds through the criminal justice system. The suspects will face the applicable legal process, while police work to establish the full circumstances of the alleged operation.

The latest arrests also highlight continued law-enforcement efforts in Gauteng to tackle unauthorised mining and the networks that support it.