Africa-Press – Mozambique. Part of the money stolen from the BCI bank in Quelimane in an armed robbery last week has been recovered by the Criminal Investigation Police (SERNIC ) in Chimoio.
A post by SERNIC in Manica on social media this morning shows members of the unit depositing the money on the floor of a BCI branch in Chimoio. Eight million meticais was recovered.
Police say the gang was heading to the south of the country, while SERNIC is reported to have placed checkpoints on the main highways in the centre of the country and at Save in order to intercept them.
In its note, SERNIC instructs its agents “to redouble operational efforts in all Control Posts in the province, including alternative tertiary routes, in order to neutralize accomplices of the group who, after the assault and subsequent division of money, [may] try to leave Quelimane-Zambézia individually for destinations within the country or abroad”.
Carta de Moçambique was unable to determine how much money was stolen from BCI. The photos released by SERNIC show packs of 100 Meticais.
Last week, the public prosecutor ordered the release of all bank employees who had been detained by the police for investigation.
Police agents involved in cash seizure investigations in Mozambique are alleged to sometimes keep a portion of what is retrieved, or be involved in its further diversion.
Police protocol in case of the apprehension of stolen money requires that the amount be deposited in a branch of the Bank of Mozambique or a commercial bank, and advises against any publicity of the act or those involved.
