Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo has ordered Copperbelt police to arrest illegal miners, saying a monster should not be created in that province.

Kampyongo said this when he met Konkola Copper Mines management yesterday in Chingola following numerous reports of illegal miners besieging the mine, attacking employees and damaging property.

The Minister was accompanied by Inspector General of Police Kakoma Kanganja, Home Affairs Deputy Permanent Secretary Willies Manjimela, senior officers from defence and security among other dignitaries.

Kampyongo warned that his ministry would not tolerate those coming into the country and obtaining investment permits but becoming in the end saying he would not hesitate to revoke their permits and deport them.

He said there would be no sacred cow when it came to Law enforcement and ordered police in Chingola to step up their efforts in safeguarding investment in the mining sector.

Kampoyongo revealed that the Home Affairs Ministry was in the process of deporting about 31 foreign nationals who had gone against the provisions of the law and were currently in detention.

He explained that his next move would be to round up all those being used by foreign nationals in illegal mining activities so that they could face the law.

“Everything should be within the confines of the Law. No monster should be created here. You the local police command, see to it that all those suspects who are sending children to commit illegality are arrested. It is only after we deal with this criminality that we will derive maximum potential from these mines,” said Kampyongo, according to a statement issued by police spokesperson Esther Mwaata Katongo.

Kampyongo further ordered police to deal with criminals who were in a habit of invading Konkola Copper Mines, ripping off installations and damaging mining equipment saying such acts amounted to sabotage.