Chinese Nationals Arrested with Gold Bars and $800,000 in Eastern DR Congo

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Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have arrested three Chinese nationals in possession of 12 gold bars and $800,000 in cash, hidden beneath the seats of their vehicle. The arrests took place in South Kivu province, a mineral-rich region that has long struggled with illegal mining and smuggling operations.

Jean Jacques Purusi, the governor of South Kivu, confirmed the arrests and revealed that the operation was kept under wraps due to concerns over interference from powerful individuals in the capital, Kinshasa. According to Purusi, a tip-off led authorities to intercept the vehicle in the Walungu area, near the border with Rwanda.

The seizure comes amidst ongoing efforts to clamp down on illegal activities in the DRC’s mining sector, which has been plagued by corruption and exploitation for decades. The mineral wealth in eastern DRC—ranging from gold and diamonds to materials critical for mobile phones and electric vehicles—has been a major driver of instability in the region.

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Governor Purusi expressed frustration over the release of 17 Chinese nationals last month, who had been arrested for allegedly running an illegal gold mine in the province. He criticized the decision to allow them to return to China, claiming they owed $10 million in taxes and fines. “Such actions undermine efforts to bring order to the country’s notoriously opaque mining sector,” he said.

The Chinese embassy has yet to comment on the latest arrests or the earlier release of the accused miners.

The incident also unfolds against a backdrop of escalating conflict in North Kivu province, where a Rwanda-backed rebel group has seized significant territory. The DRC has accused Rwanda of serving as a conduit for illegal minerals, allegations Kigali denies.

Adding to the tension, last month the Congolese government filed a lawsuit against Apple, accusing the tech giant of using “blood minerals” sourced from conflict zones in the DRC and neighboring Rwanda. The lawsuit claims that these minerals are “laundered through international supply chains,” fueling violence, child labor, and environmental degradation. Apple, in response, stated it had ceased sourcing minerals from the DRC and Rwanda.

The arrests in South Kivu underscore the DRC’s ongoing struggle to regulate its mineral resources and break the cycle of exploitation and conflict that has long defined the region.

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