SA national arrested at KIA for attempting to smuggle precious stones

Police at Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) Thursday arrested a South African woman found with suspected precious stones and attempting to export them.

According to Airport Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), Sergeant Sapulain Chitonde, the suspect was apprehended when she was about to board a South African Airways plane to Johannesburg.

“As her bag went through X-ray machine, strange objects were detected forcing the officers operating the machine to call the owner for identification and physical search.” he explained.

Chitonde added, “When the bag was opened, the officers found three blocks of pink stones weighing 4.5 Kgs. The owner failed to produce the supporting documents allowing her to export or possess the stones. Suspect was arrested and the stones seized.”

The suspect has since been identified as Lerato Montaung, aged 28, passport number 478224894.

She comes from CBD village in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Montaung will appear in court to answer charges of being found in possession of reserved minerals and attempting to export them contrary to section 99 (1) (a) (i) and section 119 (2) of minerals and mines respectively.