adminAuxilia Katongomara Chronicle Reporter
Police details under the border control unit at the Plumtree border post have intercepted a man who was trying to smuggle more than 8kgs of gold worth $290,000 to South Africa.
The suspect, a male adult whose name was not given, had hidden the precious mineral in a fuel tank and was arrested by the alert police officers at the border post on Wednesday.
In a statement, national police spokesperson, Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba, said the suspect was found in possession of 8,058g on his arrest.
“The police would like to confirm the arrest of a male adult who was found in possession of 8,058,9g of gold at Plumtree Border Post on Wednesday last week.
Circumstances are that alert members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police who were on duty stopped a Toyota Verossa vehicle which was destined for South Africa via Botswana. They searched the vehicle and discovered that the fuel tank had been tampered with,” said Snr Ass Comm Charamba.
She said police details opened the tank and discovered 12 bars and one cone of gold valued at $290, 120, 40 stashed inside.
“The suspect had no export or gold buying permit as required in terms of Gold Trade Act Chapter 21:05.
We would like to urge all those dealing in minerals to acquire licences. Miners and gold dealers should process all their gold through the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe in order to curb leakages,” said Ass Comm Charamba.
She said police would continue to monitor all mining activities in order to account for illegal dealers.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter