Angola deports 6,000 illegal diamond diggers -radio
LUANDA, June 16 (Reuters) - Angolan police have so far this year deported more than 6,000 foreigners caught digging for diamonds illegally in the country's northeastern region of Lunda Norte, Radio Nacional de Angola reported on Tuesday.
Police Commander Francisco da Cruz told the state-owned radio station the illegal diamond diggers had crossed the border from the Democratic Republic of Congo to search for gems in abandoned diamond mines.
Angola, the world's fifth largest diamond producer, only allows firms that partner with state-owned diamond company Endiama to explore for gems in the southwestern African nation.
The global recession has prompted mining companies such as BHP Billiton (BLT.L) to abandon some of their operations in Angola after falling demand for diamonds.
Da Cruz said the number of illegal diamond diggers jumped after some diamond companies abandoned mines near the Congolese border. In June, more than 700 illegal immigrants from Congo were deported from Angola, he added.
"We have now identified the main areas where illegal diamond mining is taking place and have carried out several missions to discourage the practice," he added.
Although both countries are strong regional allies, Congo has repeatedly accused Angolan troops of trespassing onto its territory through their 2,000 km (1,250 mile) land border. (Reporting by Henrique Almeida; Editing by Giles Elgood)
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