EIGHT containers of copper ore have been siezed by Ministry of Mining officials at the port of Mombasa. The eightcontainers, each measuring 20-feet had 25 tonnes of copper iron ore. Iron ore is used in making copper products.
The consignment is estimated at about Sh300 million and was being exported to China by a Nairobi based company BootCut Company Ltd. Mining Secretary Najib Balala led the seizure together with Kenya Revenue Authority officials.
Balala addressed journalists at the Kenya Ports Authority headquarters. The containers were being loaded to a ship MSC Anahita, when they were intercepted on Friday night.
The ministry said the minerals had been falsely declared as “Iron Ore” on the Kenya Revenue Authority entries and did not have an export permit.
They are suspected to have originated from mines in Migori county. “We received intelligence. I want to say that these goods must be seized, sealed until we give directions on what actions should be taken,” Balala said.
