According to reports from the Enough Project, high-ranking politically exposed persons (PEPs) from both Juba and the Kapoeta region have established small-scale mining operations using large detection machines in direct violation of the 2012 Mining Act. These officials deploy South Sudan People's Defense Forces (SSPDF) or National Security Service (NSS) soldiers to secure their mining sites against competitors while simultaneously monitoring foreign miners' activities in the region. According to local business sources, the monthly cash flows for some of these political-military leaders can reach US$2 million. By utilising government vehicles and personnel for their private mining activities, these officials avoid security, transportation, and wage costs that would otherwise cut into profits, allowing them to pocket proceeds without remitting the government's share of revenue – creating a system where the very officials tasked with enforcing mining regulations are systematically undermining them for personal gain.