Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have apprehended three Chinese nationals in possession of 12 gold bars and $800,000 in cash. The items were reportedly concealed under the seat of their vehicle.
Jacques Purusi, the governor of South Kivu province, confirmed the arrests, revealing that the operation was conducted discreetly to prevent interference. This comes after the controversial release of another group of Chinese nationals accused of operating an illegal gold mine in the region.
Governor Purusi disclosed that some individuals involved in the illegal trade of precious metals have cultivated influential connections in the capital, Kinshasa, complicating efforts to enforce the law. He emphasized that secrecy was necessary to ensure the success of this latest operation.
Although he did not give exactly how much gold had been seized so far, Mr Purusi said they had been acting on a tip-off.
According to him, the gold bars and money were only found after a meticulous search of the vehicle in the Walungu area near Rwanda’s border.
Last year, Mr Purusi told journalists that he was shocked to hear that 17 Chinese nationals, who had been arrested on allegations they had been running an illegal gold mine, were freed and allowed to return to China.
He said the development undermined the efforts to clean up DR Congo’s notoriously murky mineral sector.
“They owed $10 million in taxes and fines to the government,” Mr Purusi was quoted to have said by Reuters.
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