Lubango - A 47-year-old engineer of South African nationality was arrested by the National Police (PN) in the municipality of Jamba, Huíla province, on suspicion of exploring and trafficking gold from illegal mines.
Illegal gold mining is widespread in Jamba and Chipindo, and mainly involves young people from Huambo, Luanda and Benguela, as well as foreigners from the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is the first case involving other nationalities.
The suspect is in pre-trial detention, ordered by a judge of guarantees, after being brought before the Public Prosecutor's Office.
According to the head of Huíla's Criminal Investigation Department (DIIP), Superintendent Pedro Cassoma Mendes, the South African citizen was arrested in the town of Mupopo with 20.6 grams of raw gold from clandestine mines in the area.
The source said he was an engineer working for a mining company in the area and had used his position to carry out this illegal activity outside the company.
The suspect's arrest took place on January 24, following a police operation after a complaint was made about his actions in the area, and given the seriousness of the offense, the police carried out a series of measures that made it possible to catch him in possession of the mineral.
The foreigner in question has lived in the Jamba commune, 315 kilometers east of Lubango, the capital of Huila, for at least four years and this is the first time he has allegedly resorted to this illegal practice, according to the police. EM/MS/DAN/AMP
