JACKSON MAPAPAYI writes
TWENTY-ONE people have been arrested in Mwinilunga for illegal gold mining and seized their equipment, including an excavator and a front-end loader.
The illegal miners invaded a mining area belonging to Philton Investment Limited near Kasenseli area in the North-western province.
According to North-western province Commissioner of Police, Joe Njase, the suspects trespassed on a mining tenement belonging to Philton Investment Limited and were arrested for trespassing on a private property.
Mr Njase said the suspects have also been charged for illegal mining and exploration which is contrary to section 12 (2) of the Mining and Mineral Development Act number 11 of 2015.
“Apart from that, they have also been charged for undertaking a mining activities without an approved Environmental Impact Assessment which is contrary to section 117 as read with section 126 of the Enviro He also mentioned that during the operation, some equipment which was being used for the illegal mining activities were seized.
Mr Njase said that during the operation, some equipment which was being used for the illegal mining of gold was seized.
“The equipment include a front end loader, an excavator, two motor vehicles (Isuzu registration number ABG 5907 and a Nissan registration number ABF 4121), a gold catcher, a crusher, washing machine, water pumps among others,” he said.
He said the seized equipment had been moved from the site and parked at Mwinilunga police station.
The Commissioner of Police said the suspects, who are all male, would appear in court soon.
