Ethiopian Police
Ethiopia’s Joint Security Task Force announced that it has arrested over 90 foreigners and their associates who were engaged in gold and other minerals exploration without having legal permission from the government.
The Federal Police announced this in its social media indicating that the individuals who were allegedly engaged in illegal mineral exploration arrested in Gambella and Benshangul Gumuz regional states.
The police who have not mentioned the names and citizenship of the foreign nationals said “In addition to working illegally in the mineral-rich regions of Gambella and Benshangul Gumuz, they entered the country without legally filing the necessary immigration procedures”.
According to the statement, 45 foreigners who are allegedly entered Ethiopia without entry visas, valid documents or residence permits as well as three Ethiopians have been arrested in Gambella states and investigations are being carried out on them.
Similarly, the Joint Task Force said that 47 other foreigners nationals, nine companies and seven Ethiopians who were allegedly operating business here illegally without the necessary permits were arrested and investigations are underway on them.
The police also indicated that it has taken the legal measures based on the information it received from the local community.
The statement said that the foreigners act of illegal extraction of minerals would cause a huge lose on the economy of country.
The statement underscores that the arrest of the foreigners and their Ethiopian associates who are allegedly engaged in illegal mining in Gambella and Benshangul Gumuz is just an eye opener and will not be limited to these regional states.
Other 83 foreigners who were illegally transporting minerals from Ethiopia to neighboring countries were also arrested in Gambella, Benshangul, Gumuz and South West Regional States.
In his recent report to the House of Representatives, Ethiopia’s Police Deputy Commissioner pointed out that the foreigners who were allegedly engaged in the illegal mining are also individuals who are wanted for various crimes in their respective countries.
It was indicated that the foreigners were “committing mining robbery” in collaboration with Ethiopian nationals and were arrested when they were ready to flee the country.
Also at the occasion, it was also indicated that the country envisages earning a yearly income of over three billion dollars from mining.