Lubango – Three people aged 41, 39 and 36, including one Kenyan citizen, were arrested by the National Police in Huíla province, in possession of two kilograms of gold dust, destined for Luanda, from where it would be exported to the United Arab Emirates.
The arrest was the result of a coordinated operation between the State Intelligence and Security Service (SINSE), the Special Strategic Minerals Security Corps (CESME) and the Criminal Illicit Investigation Department (DIIP), as part of the fight against smuggling of strategic minerals.
The citizens were questioned in the Colui river area, municipality of Jamba and taken to the DIIP, where after an approach, they were detained and the aforementioned product was seized, at four o'clock on Monday.
Speaking about the case, interim spokesperson for the PN in Huíla, 3rd sub-chief Marcelino Arsénio, said that after undergoing prior interrogation, the Kenyan suspect revealed that he owned the gold, having purchased it in Tchamutete, in the municipality of Jamba worth 96 million kwanzas.
“The citizen intended to take it to Luanda, specifically in the Mártires area, at the request of a client of Lebanese nationality, residing in Dubai (United Arab Emirates), to sell at a price of 200 million kwanzas and then return to Jamba again, to buy more gold and do the same process”, he continued.
The head of the Communication and Marketing section of the PN in Huíla said that the other seized item was placed in a tamper-proof bag at CESME, to carry out subsequent steps.
In addition to the gold, the source said they also seized a white Toyota Land Cruiser vehicle that was transporting them on the route.
He made it known that gold was acquired through people who extract the product in Jamba and although the period in which they carry out the activity has not progressed, it is presumed to be a recurring practice.
It is the first case of its kind made public this year. EM/MS/CF/DOJ
