By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have detained three Chinese nationals in the eastern region, found with 12 gold bars and $800,000 in cash, officials have announced.
The governor of South Kivu province, Jean Jacques Purusi, stated that the suspects had concealed the gold bars and the cash under the seats of their vehicle.
He added that the arrests were made during a covert operation, following the recent release of another group of Chinese nationals accused of operating an illegal gold mine in the area.
Eastern DRC is rich in deposits of gold, diamonds, and other minerals essential for producing mobile phone and electric vehicle batteries.
A BBC report highlights that the region’s substantial mineral wealth has been illegally exploited by foreign entities since the colonial era, contributing to over three decades of instability.
Militia groups dominate many mines in eastern DRC, with their leaders profiting by selling minerals to intermediaries.
Governor Purusi revealed that some dealers in precious metals maintain close ties with influential figures in the capital, Kinshasa. As a result, the recent operation to arrest the suspects had to be conducted discreetly.
Acting on a tip-off, authorities conducted a meticulous search of the suspects’ vehicle in the Walungu area near the Rwandan border, where they discovered the hidden gold and cash.
Last month, Governor Purusi expressed outrage upon learning that 17 Chinese nationals, previously arrested for allegedly operating an illegal gold mine, had been released and allowed to return to China.
He remarked that such actions undermined efforts to reform DRC’s notoriously opaque mineral sector.
The governor further alleged that the released group owed $10 million in taxes and fines to the government, according to Reuters.
Additionally, last month, the DRC threatened to sue Apple over the use of “blood minerals” for which royalties had not been paid. However, the tech giant denied sourcing mineral resources essential for its products from the DRC or neighbouring Rwanda.
