Chinese Nationals Arrested With Over 10 Gold Bars And Cash
Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) have arrested three Chinese nationals in the eastern province of South Kivu. They were found with 12 gold bars and $800,000 (£650,000) in cash concealed under the seats of their vehicle, according to Jean Jacques Purusi, the governor of South Kivu.
The arrests follow a secretive operation prompted by a tip-off, with the contraband discovered after a meticulous search of the vehicle in Walungu, near the border with Rwanda. Governor Purusi noted that secrecy was critical to the operation, given the influence of certain dealers in precious metals with connections to powerful figures in the capital, Kinshasa.
Eastern DR Congo is rich in natural resources, including gold, diamonds, and the minerals used in mobile phones and electric vehicles. However, this wealth has long been a source of instability. Militia groups control many mines, profiting from illegal mining activities and selling resources to middlemen who often operate with impunity.
The region’s history of exploitation dates back to the colonial era and remains a significant factor in its ongoing conflict. Governor Purusi noted the need to clean up the mineral sector, which is plagued by corruption and criminal activity.
This latest arrest comes on the heels of another controversy involving Chinese nationals. Last month, Governor Purusi expressed outrage after 17 Chinese individuals, accused of operating an illegal gold mine in the region, were released and allowed to return to China. He revealed they owed $10 million in taxes and fines to the Congolese government, adding that their release undermined efforts to reform the country’s mining sector.
The Chinese embassy has not commented on the allegations, but the arrests have drawn attention to the challenges of addressing illegal mining and mineral smuggling in DR Congo.
The arrests come amid heightened tensions in the neighboring North Kivu province, where fighting continues between DR Congo’s forces and a Rwanda-backed rebel group. These conflicts are fueled in part by competition for control over the region’s mineral resources.
International scrutiny of DR Congo’s mining practices has also increased. Last month, the Congolese government filed a lawsuit against Apple, accusing the tech giant of benefiting from “blood minerals” sourced from conflict zones. Apple responded by stating it had ceased sourcing minerals from DR Congo and neighboring Rwanda.
The lawsuit alleges that minerals from conflict areas are laundered through international supply chains, fueling violence, forced child labor, and environmental destruction. Rwanda has denied serving as a conduit for the export of illegal minerals.
The arrest of the three Chinese nationals underscores the complexities of DR Congo’s mineral sector, where corruption, violence, and international complicity converge. As global demand for these resources grows, the need for transparency and accountability in the region has never been greater. Governor Purusi’s efforts highlight the challenges of reforming a system deeply entrenched in criminal networks and geopolitical interests.
