2023-08-15 21:34:36
Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) – The authorities in Zambia announced that they seized a private plane coming from Cairo to Lusaka, which had $ 5.7 million in cash on board, 602 pieces of suspected gold bars, and five pistols with 126 rounds.
The Director-General of the Anti-Narcotics Commission, Nason Panda, said in a press conference on Tuesday that the Zambian authorities have detained 10 people, including a Zambian citizen, six Egyptians, a Dutchman, a Spaniard and a Latvian, who are under investigation.
Nason Panda added that the plane moving from Cairo had “dangerous goods” on board, and landed at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka around 7:00 pm (local time) on Monday.
Banda explained that law enforcement agencies in Zambia confiscated $5.7 million, five pistols, seven ammunition stores, 126 rounds of ammunition, 602 pieces of gold weighing 127.2 kilograms, and gold measuring devices.
The official indicated that the private plane was a Global Express T7-ww, pointing out that another plane belonging to a local airline, King Air B190, was seized and believed to have been part of the operation.
Banda said the money had been placed in the custody of the Bank of Zambia, as investigations into the matter continued.
Later, Mines and Minerals Development Minister Paul Kapusoy said a team from his ministry’s geological department had been assigned Monday to ascertain whether the minerals seized were indeed gold.
Kapusui said, in statements to the media, on Tuesday, that after a laboratory analysis conducted by the Geological Department, it was found that the seized minerals were not gold, but rather copper, nickel, tin and zinc.
“After a comprehensive analysis, it was discovered that the alleged gold alloys contain copper in the range of 58 to 61%, zinc in the range of 38 to 41%,” and trace amounts of tin and nickel, Kapusui explained.
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