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Investigators unearth mineral smuggling through Mombasa port

Investigators unearth mineral smuggling through Mombasa port
Mining CS Ali Hassan Joho. PHOTO/PRINT

Kenyan authorities have uncovered a sophisticated mineral smuggling ring operating through the Port of Mombasa.
The well-coordinated scheme involves importation of high-value minerals disguised as low-value commodities.

This follows a recent alarm by Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho that the country is bleeding mineral wealth through unregulated mining.

A joint operation by the State Department of Mining and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) led to the interception of several shipping containers two weeks ago, which had already been loaded onto a vessel bound for China.

The cargo had been declared as manganese, but upon closer scrutiny, investigators discovered copper ore, which requires authorisation to export.

Speaking at the Port Police Station in Mombasa, Regional Mining Officer Paul Karue confirmed that the intercepted cargo had been falsely declared as originating from Kwale County.

“Preliminary investigations have revealed significant traces of copper ore hidden within the shipments, along with other minerals,” said Karue.

Investigators from the Mining Police Unit, led by former Kilimani DCIO Fatma Ali, were dispatched to Mombasa to examine the cargo.

Armed with portable XRF analysers—devices capable of instantly determining the chemical composition of minerals the team cracked open three containers.

Their findings confirmed the authorities’ suspicions. The cargo contained crushed copper ore, carefully processed into powder and pellets to evade detection.

Authorities believe the smuggling attempt was part of a wider scheme to bypass export regulations and evade taxes. Unlike manganese, which has a relatively low market value, copper is a strategic and highly valuable mineral.

Under Kenyan law, only the National Mining Corporation is authorised to export copper, making this attempted shipment not just a case of tax evasion but a direct violation of mineral export regulations.

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