Three Chinese nationals were arrested in Eastern DR Congo with 12 gold bars and $800,000 in cash, following a tip-off. The operation was kept secret due to previous controversial releases of Chinese gold miners.

Three Chinese nationals have been detained in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after being found in possession of 12 gold bars and $800,000 in cash. The suspects were apprehended in a vehicle, where the valuables were hidden under the seat.

Jacques Purusi, governor of South Kivu province, confirmed the arrests and revealed that the operation was kept secret due to the recent release of another group of Chinese nationals who were accused of operating an illegal gold mine in the region.

Purusi noted that some of these gold dealers had established good relations with influential figures in the capital, Kinshasa, which was the reason for the secrecy surrounding the latest arrests. Although the exact amount of gold seized has not been disclosed, Purusi mentioned that the operation was based on a tip-off.

The discovery was made after a detailed search of the vehicle in Walungu, an area near the Rwandan border. Last year, Purusi expressed his shock at the release of 17 Chinese nationals who had been arrested for running an illegal gold mine. Despite owing $10 million in taxes and fines, they were allowed to return to China, a move that Purusi claimed undermined efforts to clean up the DRC’s troubled mining sector.