Mozambique: 44 arrested this year for illegal ruby mining at MRM
Mozambique: Police in shootout with drug dealers in Maputo – AIM
2:08 CAT | 11 Jan 2022
Screen grab: StrongLive
The Mozambican police and drug dealers exchanged fire on Saturday in a Maputo neighbourhood so notorious for drug trafficking that it has become known as “Columbia”.
The area is part of the military quarter, where the residents of many of the houses are former members of the armed forces. Despite the area’s notoriety, and its proximity to major government buildings, the police have never been able to eradicate drug trafficking here.
On Saturday, the police launched a raid into “Columbia” and found themselves facing armed resistance. The independent television station STV showed amateur video footage of the shootout.
Some of the drug dealers and their supporters also hurled stones at the police. Informal traders, selling their wares on the pavements, ran to take cover.
A local official told reporters that nobody was killed or injured in the shooting. At least one person was arrested – he is said to be the son of a local drugs “baroness”.
The armed rioters tried to release him from the police. “We were fighting because they wanted our brother”, one resident told STV. “We asked what was going on, but they grabbed him by the neck and began to shoot”.
The police have not yet commented on the matter, but promised to do so on Monday.
Source: AIM / STV
Show comments
Also read
Leave a Reply
Be the First to Comment!
You must be logged in to post a comment.
You must be logged in to post a comment.