South African Police Hunt For Losotho Gang Controlling Illegal Gold Mines At Location 78 Bodies Found

JAKARTA - South African police are hunting for gang members Lesotho who are believed to have controlled illegal gold mining operations where 78 bodies were found last week during a police siege.

The suspect, known as "Tiger", emerged from a mine infewfontein while under police surveillance and escaped from custody with the help of officers.

Extensive investigations and search operations are underway to find officials assisting his escape between the 11th axis and thefewfontein police detention cell, South African Police said as reported by Reuters on Monday, January 20.

Police have come under widespread criticism for months of operations cutting off food and water supplies for miners in an attempt to force them out of the mine to be caught.

This dispute culminated in a rescue operation carried out by the state last week, of which 246 survivors were rescued from deep mines, many of whom were thin and weak due to hunger.

But police said it was the gang leaders who were to blame for the deaths, citing reports from some miners who said there was food underground but the kingpin kept it for themselves.

Thousands of people are believed to have been involved in illegal gold mining in abandoned industrial mines in South Africa in search of remaining gold. Some workers spent months underground.

This profitable industry is known to be run by gangs based in Lesotho. Police said some of its workers were illegal immigrants recruited from neighboring countries without knowing what they should do.

Tiger is mentioned in the statements of the miners as the leader of the group running the operation.

He was also accused by several illegal miners, allegedly responsible for several deaths, attacks and tortures that allegedly occurred according to videos held by police. He was also accused of hoarding and storing food away from other illegal miners, police said.