MAPUTO, Dec.18 (Xinhua) -- Mozambican authorities confirmed on Wednesday that 12 foreign individuals were detained last Saturday in Pemba, the northern province of Cabo Delgado, for transporting 1.5 tons of heroin-type drugs by boat.
Photos of a boat set on fire by alleged criminals off the coast of Pemba circulated on social networks days ago, which was confirmed by the General Director of the National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC) Domingos Jofane on the sidelines of a meeting in Maputo.
"We realized that a boat carrying a forbidden cargo was approaching, that is, heroin-like drugs, so we went overboard to deal with them and the criminals set fire to the boat, then we captured those 12 traffickers who are currently in custody. It is estimated that about a ton and a half was in that boat," said the director.
It is presumed that the traffickers were tasked with the logistics supply for the armed men in Cabo Delgado, who set fire to the boat to eliminate traces after noticing the presence of the police force.
