South African police are searching for the gang boss of an illicit mine that killed dozens of people

A Lesotho gang boss is being sought by South African police for allegedly controlling activities at an illicit gold mine where 78 deaths were found last week following months of police siege.

According to the South African Police Service on Monday, “Tiger” is said to have emerged from the deep mine in Stilfontein while it was being watched by police and managed to get away with assistance from authorities.

“Extensive investigations and tracing operations are under way to find those officials who aided his escape between shaft 11 and the Stilfontein police holding cells,” added the statement.

The months-long operation, in which police cut off food and water in an effort to drive the miners out and arrest them, drew widespread criticism.

According to Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, the fatalities should not be attributed on the state.

“There are individuals who willingly went into mines, engaged in unlawful activity, and perished there as a result. “I think it’s misplaced to then come back and say the state is going to take the blame for that,” he told Reuters during the annual gathering of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Last Monday, 246 survivors—many of them malnourished and emaciated—were pulled from the mine as part of a state-sponsored rescue effort that ended the stalemate.

According to miners mentioned by police, there was food underground, but the gang bosses hoarded it for themselves.

In South Africa, thousands of individuals are allegedly engaged in illicit gold mining in defunct industrial mines. Some stay underground for months at a time.

Police claim some of the workers are illegal immigrants who were recruited from neighboring countries without understanding their purpose, and the activities are believed to be operated by gangs headquartered in Lesotho.

According to the police statement, miners identified “Tiger” as an operational boss.

“He is also being accused by some illegal miners … (of) being allegedly responsible for some deaths, assault and torture that is alleged to have taken place according to videos in police possession,” added the statement. “He is also alleged to have hoarded and kept food away from other illegal miners.”