The Judicial Court of Tete province says that there is a record of crimes in the mining operations in the town of Mualudzi, in the district of Chifundzi, and that it has already captured four individuals and is taking steps to remove 500 illegal miners.

Quoted by NewsIn addition, the institution reports the occurrence of drug trafficking, money laundering, illegal immigration, arms smuggling and explosives in the area, related to the illegal exploitation of minerals.

The individuals arrested are said to be the ringleaders of illegal mining in that part of the country. When they were captured, the authorities found two firearms with no legal registration.

The court ordered the closure of the mine, the removal of around 500 illegal miners, the seizure of goods and materials (heavy machinery, explosives, chemicals such as mercury and cyanide) used in mining, which leads to environmental damage and harms the practice of agriculture.

Among the miners targeted in the operation are Mozambicans, Tanzanians, Malawians, Zimbabweans and Congolese.

According to the newspaper, the Tete court has ordered the closure of illegal associations that were intensively exploiting mineral resources in that district.