Three Chinese citizens carrying large amounts of gold bars and US dollars were arrested in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Three Chinese nationals carrying 12 gold bars and $800,000 in cash were arrested in the eastern part of the country, officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo said.
South Kivu provincial governor Jean-Jacques Purusi said the gold bars and cash were hidden under the seats of the vehicle they were driving.
He said the operation was kept secret and came after another group of Chinese were recently released from custody after being accused of illegally operating a gold mine in the area.
The eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo is home to vast deposits of gold, diamonds and minerals that can be used to make batteries for mobile phones and electric vehicles.
These deposits were plundered by foreign groups during the colonial era and have been the cause of widespread instability in the region over the past 30 years.
Militia groups now control many of these mines, and their leaders make vast fortunes selling them to middlemen.
Prusi said some dealers of precious minerals have good ties to influential people in the capital, Kinshasa, which is why the recent arrests needed to be kept secret.
He said the operation was tipped off and that the gold and cash were found in Walungu, not far from the Rwandan border, after a thorough search of vehicles.
He did not disclose the exact amount of gold seized.
Prusi told reporters last month that he was extremely shocked when 17 Chinese citizens who were arrested and charged with illegal gold mining were released and allowed to return to China.
He said such actions discredited efforts to clean up Congo's notorious mining sector.
Reuters quoted him as saying the mining industry owed the government $10 million in taxes and fines.
The Chinese Embassy did not respond to the allegations.
The arrests come as fighting continues in neighboring North Kivu province, where a Rwandan-backed rebel group has seized large swathes of territory.
The Democratic Republic of Congo accused Apple last month of using "blood minerals", leading the company to stop sourcing from the country and neighbouring Rwanda.
Rwanda denies being a conduit for illegal exports of Congolese minerals.
Lawyers representing the DRC government allege that minerals from conflict zones are then "laundered through international supply chains".
“These actions fuel a cycle of violence and conflict by funding militias and terrorist groups, and are linked to forced child labour and environmental destruction,” they said.
Comments
Post a Comment