Suspected gold thieves nabbed in Free State
Fourteen men were arrested in Welkom on Wednesday while allegedly packing cool drinks for illegal miners, Free State police said.
Spokeswoman Molebogeng Lechesa said the men were caught red-handed, packing cool drinks meant for the illegal miners (zama zamas) underground.
"The suspects were found in a garage of a certain house in St Helena, Welkom and were immediately arrested," she said.
Police confiscated bags full of cool drinks and wrapping plastics."
She said the drinks had an estimated value of R250,000.
The men were expected to appear in the Welkom Magistrate's Court on Thursday facing charges of conspiracy to steal gold and for attempted gold theft, she said.
(File Photo: Gallo Images)