TANZANIA: ROBBERS SNATCH SH10 BILLION TANZANITE IN RECORD HEIST

Arusha. Unknown people have stolen 15 kilograms of tanzanite gemstones whose estimated value is Sh10 billion, this newspaper was told yesterday.

The rare minerals, according to reliable sources, were forcibly taken by armed people while being taken to a strongroom owned by Tanzanite One Mining Limited (TML) at Mererani.

However, officials from the firm whose 50 per cent shares were recently acquired by the government, were not available to give details on the theft, believed to be an inside job.

Reliable information reaching The Citizen said the robbery took place at the company’s premises, which is a joint venture between Richland Resources and the State Mining Corporation (Stamico).

Informed sources said suspected robbers stormed the strongroom at the firm’s premises at 2:30 am yesterday and carted away the minerals. At the time of the alleged robbery, the firm’s employees and those of Stamico were about to take the minerals for safe custody in the strongroom. Reports further said there were gunshots before the armed men sped away with the minerals. While getting away, they left another 23 kilograms of tanzanite at the site. When reached for comment, an TML official identified only as Douglas confirmed the robbery but declined to give further details. He could not be reached on his mobile for most of yesterday.

The Manyara Regional Police Commander Deusdedit Nsimeki said nobody was injured during the incident but said five people were being questioned in connection with the robbery.

He added that from the look of things, the robbery could have been an inside job because, according to him, there was no justification in the minerals being transported for safe custody in the wee hours of the night without any security escort. This is the second major reported robbery at Mererani, the only mining site for the rate tanzanite minerals in the world.

Last year, the gems worth Sh. 30billion disappeared in mysterious circumstances from the strong firm of a mining company there.