17 trucks illegally transporting mining products worth 3.5 million USD seized in Lualaba, DRC
The Agency for the Prevention and Fight against Corruption (APLC) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) announced to the press, on Thursday July 7, 2022, that it had intercepted 33 trucks illegally transporting mining products in the province of Lualaba.
Sixteen (16) out of the thirty-three (33) trucks were required to pay fines in the order of several hundred US dollars for having violated the rules enacted in this regard.
In addition, 17 other trucks were seized with goods estimated at nearly 3.5 million USD by teams from the Agency for the Prevention and Fight against Corruption in the DRC.
“We had a seizure of 33 trucks full of raw materials including copper and cobalt, 16 of which concern low-grade uranium. “, indicated the Deputy Coordinator of the APLC in charge of complaints, inquiries and investigations.
Regarding the other investigations that have been carried out, the APLC says it expects the payment of 30 million USD in mining royalties and fines.
It should be noted that during this confrontation with press professionals, the Deputy Coordinator of the APLC in charge of complaints, inquiries and investigations reaffirmed the determination of his structure to fight against all forms of corruption in the DRC.
For his part, the Coordinator of the APLC, Thierry Mbulamoko, indicated that by 2026, the APLC plans to reduce to 60% the facts assimilated to corruption in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
To do this, Thierry Mbulamoko is counting on the mobilization of the entire Congolese population as a whole to defeat this scourge which is impoverishing the country.
To this end, the APLC is launching a digital platform where whistleblowers, journalists and Congolese citizens can report acts of corruption throughout the national territory.