20 October 2007
Maputo — The Mozambican police arrested two illegal arms dealers in the Gorongosa district, in the central Sofala province recently, reports Friday's issue of the daily 'Noticias'.
Tomas Estevao Cadapita, 39, and Luis Manuel Voque, 43, were caught red-handed while trying to sell a sub-machine gun, a mortar shell and a grenade, presumably coming from a base of the former rebel movement Renamo in the Maringue district, where Renamo armed men are still stationed.
Gorongosa district police commander Inacio Cipriano confirmed this information during an interval of the ceremonies to celebrate the World Food Day, that took place at the Nhabirira locality, also in Sofala.
He added that his corporation has been receiving information that Renamo armed men in Maringue have been supplying firearms to local peasants who later sell them to crime syndicates, and the police have launched a 'ruthless war', through the use of plain clothes agents as potential buyers of such artifacts.
Cipriano added that this strategy is bearing fruits, mentioning as an example the recent arrests, with the accused awaiting the normal procedures of the law, while investigations are continuing to identify the original suppliers.
He said that in this action, the police are counting on the full cooperation of the local communities to bring the situation under control.
The police also learnt that the buyers of these artifacts use them in armed robberies in the Maputo, Beira, Inhambane, and Nampula cities.
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