20 people arrested in Solwezi with 242.12 grams of gold

Twenty people have been arrested in Solwezi in connection with the illegal mining of gold in the province.

And 16 illegal gold miners have since been arrested and charged for being possession of 1701.6 grams of suspected gold concentrates.

Police spokesperson Esther Katongo has told Mwebantu that on Monday, September 11, this year, police received a tip-off from members of the public who suspected some people to have been conducting illegal business from a house belonging to a man identified as Valeta Ramon.

She said when police officers visited the premise, they intercepted four motor vehicles which were being driven in or out of the premises.

Mrs Katongo said 16 illegal miners were further apprehended at different times with different grams of suspected gold concentrate while three other people were caught in the act of smelting the suspected gold concentrate.

“15 Gas cylinders, 13 kilograms of gold concentrate, 48 pieces of suspected pure gold weighing 242.12 grams, cash money amounting to K413, 520. 00, 3 by 20 litres of acid and two scales were recovered.

The total number of suspects arrested in the gold scandal is twenty. This includes the owner of the house who surrendered himself to the police”, Mrs Katongo said.

She said the value of the recovered suspected gold concentrate is yet to be ascertained.

Mrs Katongo said four people have since been charged with the offence of fraudulently dealing in minerals without a License while 16 others have been charged with being found in possession of property believed to have been stolen or unlawfully obtained.

She said all the suspects will appear in court soon.