By
Respondent Reporter.
The government has seized 15.78 kg of gold ore worth
3.4 billion TSH at the port, which was ready to be smuggled out of the country.
Three suspects have been arrested in connection with the smuggling attempt.
"A total of 15.78 kg of gold ore worth TZS3.4
billion have been intercepted at the port, ready to be smuggled out of the
country with no definite location of where it was supposed to go," Minister
of Mines, Anthony Mavunde, said during a press conference in Dar es Salaam.
Mavunde expressed his concern about illegal activities
in the mining sector, saying, the country has several production sectors whose
income is the basis of the development of the economy, including the mining
sector.
“When we have a few people involved in these illegal
mining deals, depriving the government of its income, we cannot tolerate them,"
he added.
He insisted that the suspects' mining licenses would
be revoked if they are found guilty.
"The smugglers are going to lose the gold ores
and the money because they have been arrested at an early stage. If found
guilty and convicted by the court, the government will have their licenses
revoked, and they will be put on a list where they will not be allowed to hold
a license to do any business in the mining sector," Mavunde noted.
The suspects claimed that they were transporting the
gold ore from the port of Dar es Salaam to the islands of Zanzibar.
"Investigations and interviews with the suspects
are ongoing, and when it's all completed, we will take them to court to face
the charges filed against them," Mavunde said.
Mavunde praised the efforts of the task force and
security agencies in preventing mineral smuggling.
He also urged stakeholders to comply with the
country's laws and procedures.
"I urge all businessmen to stop engaging in
illegal activities because it undermines government efforts to bring
development to its people and the country at large," he said.
