Illicit gold market busted, 109 nabbed
By Thandizo Banda
A DAWN operation at the notorious Danger Hill Mining Area in Shiwang’andu District has led to the detention of 109 suspected illegal immigrants in a coordinated security sweep by law enforcement agencies.
Acting in the early hours of Monday officers from the Department of Immigration working with the Zambia Police Service and the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) descended on the mining zone where illegal gold mining and trading activities have been thriving for some months.
The operation resulted in the apprehension of 112 persons, most of them foreigners found operating in the area without proper documentation.
Of those detained, 104 are Tanzanians, one Malawian and four individuals who claimed to be Zambians.
The remaining three suspects, who are Zambians, were detained by DEC after being found in possession of prohibited drugs.
Preliminary investigations suggest that several of the foreigners were either engaged in illegal gold mining, buying illegally mined gold or operating restaurants and trading businesses within the mining zone.
Immigration officers noted that majority suspects were undocumented, while a few were found in possession of temporary travel documents which only allowed visitors to remain in the country, not to engage in business or mining activities.
All the suspects are being held at Mpika Correctional Facility, where further screening is underway ahead of possible prosecution.
Meanwhile, the Department of Immigration reports that on the same day, operations conducted in other parts of the country led to the apprehension of 68 suspected illegal immigrants, 16 convictions, and the removal of 12 illegal immigrants from Zambia.
Chief public relations officer Namati Nshinka said government had adopted a firm position against illegal mining and related criminal activities.
