Cables have received what it considers credible and serious information regarding gold smuggling and the movement of large amounts of cash through Chileka International Airport in Blantyre.
According to information gathered by Cables, Chileka Airport is being used as a transit point for large-scale money laundering and the illicit movement of substantial amounts of foreign currency and gold to destinations outside Malawi.
The operations involve the movement of millions of dollars in cash, as well as significant quantities of gold, through the airport with the help of some officials and officers from difference agencies stationed at the airport .
Cables is currently investigating a group of 12 individuals whose identities we are withholding at this stage.
According to information available to us, the individuals travel through Chileka Airport to Tanzania twice a week as part of what is suspected to be a wider network with gold and cash .
We are analysing the travel history of these passengers over the past six months, with particular attention to what appears to be a recurring weekly pattern of movement.
Our investigation is focusing on their travel patterns, business interests, places of work and possible connections in Tanzania, where substantial amounts of cash and gold are allegedly transited before being moved onward to other international destinations, including Dubai, Pakistan, Turkey and India.
At this stage, Cables is also aware of the identity of at least one key individual linked to the suspected activities.
A few weeks ago, another incident reportedly raised further questions about security and monitoring at Chileka Airport when a plane Registration: N137ZM registered in U.S. A to ZOMA FALCON LLC landed without prior notice and the necessary clearance.
The pilot was arrested , fined the following day and left the country.
The purpose of that flight and the identities of any individuals the pilot may have come to collect have not yet been publicly established.
Cables is investigating whether the incident may have any connection to the wider allegations of illicit cash and gold movements through the airport.
Amid these serious allegations, Cables notes that the Government of Malawi, the Malawi Police Service, the Financial Intelligence Authority, the Malawi Revenue Authority, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services, airport security authorities and other relevant law-enforcement agencies are deliberately giving a blind eye .
The apparent lack of visible action has fuelled public speculation and raised questions about whether the network may be benefiting from protection or assistance from individuals within the system.
If millions of dollars and significant quantities of gold are indeed being moved through Chileka Airport outside established legal and regulatory procedures, the matter would represent a serious threat to Malawi’s economy, financial system and national security.
Cables will continue investigating and analysing the available information.
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