A CONSIGNMENT of gold minerals worth more than 1.5bn/- has been seized in Mbeya Region along with 10 people ‘smuggling’ the precious metal.

Minerals minister Anthony Mavunde told the media here yesterday that the 9.8kg consignment was seized by the police in collaboration with anti-mineral smuggling special units while preparing to haul it across the border.

The suspects were blocked at one of the houses in Ilomba area in Mbeya city following an anti-smuggling operation, he said, elaborating that the consignment had 334 pieces in different boxes, with minerals shaping tools being part of the catch.

Weigh scales for measuring the weight and quality of gold, gas cylinders, gold burning and cooling tools plus chemicals for refining gold were found on the spot, he said, asserting that had the smuggling succeeded, the government would have lost 144m/- in royalty, tax and levies.

Benjamin Kuzaga, the regional police commander, said that officers from the security forces arrived at the house and had to conduct a battle with the suspects.

As the officers have special training to deal with crime, when the suspected criminals tried to escape and hide themselves they failed and were detained, he stated.

Subira Sanga, the Ilomba Street local authority chairperson, said that her office wasn’t aware of the business of the suspects as they casually rented premises, and no one investigated them.

 “I also knew them a day before their arrest, I saw them coming from the house and asked them what they do for a living and they claimed to engage in buying farm produce,” she explained, pursuing that she wanted them to ensure that they report to the hamlet’s leader as a way of showing intent to live there peacefully.

The house’s owner, Vitus Sanga said when they went to rent the house, they introduced themselves as crop traders. “I rented this house to two people who came to me with that need,” he said.

 I wasn’t aware that there were eight other people behind them,” he said in astonishment.

Mbaraka Batenga, the acting regional commissioner, directed street authorities to ensure that no one enters and resides in their areas without reporting to the local authorities for vetting.

“It is important for leaders to heighten monitoring daily operations in their streets and ensure that they identify all the dwellers by name and presumed occupations,” he emphasized.