Chinese nationals arrested in DR Congo with gold bars and $800,000 cash

Authorities in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) have arrested three Chinese nationals after discovering 12 gold bars and $800,000 in cash hidden under the seats of their vehicle. The arrests were made during a secretive operation in South Kivu province, according to Governor Jean Jacques Purusi.

The governor revealed that the operation was conducted discreetly, given the sensitive nature of similar cases in the region. This follows the controversial release of 17 Chinese nationals last month who had been accused of operating an illegal gold mine in the same area. Purusi expressed frustration over their release, citing that they owed the government $10 million in taxes and fines.

Eastern DR Congo is rich in resources, including gold, diamonds, and minerals essential for mobile phones and electric vehicle batteries. However, this wealth has long been a source of exploitation and conflict. Militia groups dominate many mining operations, profiting from sales to intermediaries. This has fueled decades of instability, with the proceeds often funding armed groups and perpetuating violence.

Purusi noted that some middlemen dealing in precious metals maintain close ties with influential figures in Kinshasa, complicating efforts to clean up the sector. This prompted the need for secrecy in the recent arrests to avoid any interference.

Authorities in Walungu, near the Rwandan border, acted on a tip-off and conducted a thorough search of a vehicle, uncovering gold bars and $800,000 in cash hidden beneath the seats. While officials confirmed the discovery, they did not disclose the exact amount of gold seized. The Chinese embassy has not commented on the arrests or the allegations.

This incident underscores the persistent issues of illegal mining and smuggling in DR Congo, where corruption and influential networks often impede regulatory efforts. Governor Jean Jacques Purusi has repeatedly called for greater transparency and accountability within the country’s mineral sector, emphasizing the need to combat exploitation and ensure the nation’s wealth benefits its people.

Despite government initiatives to clean up the industry, entrenched interests and weak enforcement continue to challenge meaningful reform. The arrests highlight the critical need for coordinated efforts to address the systemic issues plaguing the region’s resource management.

The arrests come as DR Congo grapples with continued instability in the neighboring North Kivu province, where a rebel group backed by Rwanda has seized significant territory. The conflict, tied to control over mineral resources, has drawn international attention.

Last month, DR Congo sued tech giant Apple over its alleged use of “blood minerals” sourced from conflict zones. The lawsuit accused international supply chains of laundering minerals extracted from areas plagued by violence, financing militias, and perpetuating forced labor and environmental harm. Apple denied the allegations and stated it no longer sources minerals from DR Congo or Rwanda.

Rwanda, accused of being a conduit for the export of illegal minerals, has denied these claims.

The recent arrests underscore the urgent need to address the murky practices surrounding DR Congo’s mineral wealth. As the government intensifies its efforts to regulate the sector, challenges remain in dismantling entrenched networks of corruption and conflict. International cooperation will be critical to breaking the cycle of exploitation and ensuring that the country’s resources are used to benefit its people.