The National Security Authorities in Haut-Katanga Province have intercepted a more than 150 stolen sheets of copper cathodes from Musoshi enroute to Zambia.
The local intelligence service revealed that it had intercepted a truck carrying 130 sheets of copper cathodes and 15 bags of copper which had already been transported to the Zambian side through Sakania Border Post.
Provincial Police Commissioner General Dieudonne Odimba Okito confirmed the arrest of two young men in possession of the minerals suspected to have been hijacked from trucks.
Meanwhile vice-governor of Haut-Katanga Province, Jean Claude Kamfwa Kimimba has warned other perpetrators of such crimes to desist from the acts or face the law.
“They will be made available to the courts so that they can tell us where they find, buy or even sell these minerals. The investigations continue, we will be able to discourage all those who are in the dirty activity” Governor Kimimba said.
Theft of copper has been on a rapid rise in Haut-Katanga recently with another incident having occured in Likasi where 120 tons of stolen copper cathodes from Tenke Fungurume Mining were intercepted.