A multi-agency team has seized three 20-foot containers weighing 75 metric tonnes containing copper ores disguised as manganese ores onboard a vessel ready to be shipped to China.
The exporter had declared that the containers were loaded with manganese ores that are used for steel production, dry-cell batteries, and paint.
The containers were opened by detectives from the Mining Police Unit led by Fatuma Ali in the full glare of cameras at the Port Police. "Some three containers were intercepted two weeks ago on suspicion of mineral smuggling.
A multi-agency team was formed to investigate whether these containers had the declared minerals," said Coast Regional Mining Officer Peter Karuwe. "Preliminary investigations have shown that the minerals declared for export were not manganese, and we can see that there is copper among other minerals," he added.
