DR Congo: Three Chinese nationals in possession of gold bars and $800,000 cash arrested
Jean Jacques Purusi, the governor of South Kivu province, stated that the gold and money were concealed beneath the seats of the vehicle the suspects were traveling in.
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Three Chinese nationals were apprehended in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) with 12 gold bars and $800,000 in cash, authorities reported.
Jean Jacques Purusi, the governor of South Kivu province, stated that the gold and money were concealed beneath the seats of the vehicle the suspects were traveling in. He added that the arrests were conducted covertly following the recent release of other Chinese nationals accused of operating an illegal gold mine in the region.
Eastern DR Congo is rich in resources such as gold, diamonds, and minerals essential for manufacturing batteries used in mobile phones and electric vehicles. However, this wealth has been exploited since the colonial era, contributing to decades of instability. Militia groups often control mining operations, selling minerals to intermediaries and amassing considerable wealth. According to Purusi, some of these intermediaries maintain influential connections in the capital, Kinshasa, necessitating the secrecy of the operation.
The arrests, based on a tip-off, took place in the Walungu area, near the border with Rwanda. Authorities conducted a thorough search of the vehicle to uncover the hidden valuables. While Purusi did not specify the exact quantity of gold seized, he emphasized the operation's success in disrupting illegal activities.
Last month, the governor expressed dismay over the release of 17 Chinese nationals accused of managing an illicit gold mine. They had allegedly evaded $10 million in taxes and fines, a move Purusi claimed undermined efforts to regulate DR Congo's mineral sector. Despite these accusations, the Chinese embassy has not commented.
The recent arrests come amid ongoing conflict in the neighboring North Kivu province, where a Rwanda-backed rebel group has seized significant territory. Additionally, DR Congo has filed a lawsuit against Apple, accusing the tech giant of profiting from "blood minerals" sourced from conflict zones. Apple responded by announcing it had ceased sourcing materials from DR Congo and Rwanda, though Rwanda has denied involvement in exporting illegal minerals.
In their lawsuit, DR Congo's government lawyers alleged that minerals from conflict areas were integrated into global supply chains, fueling violence, funding armed groups, and contributing to forced child labor and environmental damage.