THE Gauteng provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela led another successful Operation ‘O Kae Molao’ in Springs on Thursday.

The multidisciplinary team targeted an industrial area where an illegal mining plant was discovered, said police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo.

“Fourteen undocumented foreign nationals were arrested after they were found hard at work, processing gold-bearing material.”

Police confiscated heavy-duty equipment which flattened the area and was used for illegal mining.

Lt Col Masondo said police among others found a car carrying mandrax tablets.

The other phase of the operation on Thursday morning conducted a roadblock on the N12 Highway. This is where a car was stopped and searched.

During the search that ensued, police found mandrax tablets valued at about R100 000.

“The driver of the vehicle, who is a foreign national, led the police to Primrose in Ekurhuleni, where more drugs worth more than R150 000 were recovered,” Lt Col Masondo said.

The roadblock also uncovered a car which was reported stolen. In addition, 20 undocumented foreign nationals are also arrested.

On Wednesday night, when the operation started, detectives kicked off by tracing wanted suspects. More than 900 suspects who had been on the run for various crimes were found and detained.

“More than five cars that are suspected to be stolen and hijacked were recovered in one of the panel beaters in Springs,” said Lt Col Masondo.

The Hawks arrested another nine suspects including an owner of an alleged illegal mine site at a plot in Randfontein on Thursday.

The team was arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team in the West Rand, said spokesperson Captain Lloyd Ramovha.