Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested two Chinese nationals, Wang Jiang and Wang Richard, for allegedly attempting to export solid minerals without the necessary permits.
The arrest of Jiang took place at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu on November 3, 2024.
A statement said Jiang was intercepted at the hold baggage screening point where “unidentified suspicious stones believed to be solid minerals wrapped in three different pieces were discovered in his luggage.”
The EFCC said two Nigerian nationals, Donatus Agupusi and Michael Benneth Agu, were also arrested at the Enugu zonal directorate of the commission.
Advertisement
The agency did not specify the location of Richard’s arrest.
“Preliminary investigations into the matter revealed that Agupusi, owner of Great Wall Construction Limited, is the employer of the remaining suspects,” the statement reads.
“Investigation also revealed that Jiang was attempting to travel out of the country with the solid minerals in order to carry out some tests on them in China.”
Advertisement
The agency noted that none of the four suspects had the required permits to export the minerals.
“Their arrest followed an intelligence received by the commission through the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on November 3, 2024, involving Jiang,” the statement added.
“The suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.”
The arrests come on the heels of another significant bust in October when three Chinese nationals and two Nigerians were detained for illegal mining activities in Nasarawa state.
Advertisement
The suspects were apprehended at an illegal mining site in Rafin-Gabas, Agwada, located in Kokona LGA.
Segun Tomori, the special assistant on media to Dele Alake, the minister of solid minerals development, confirmed the Nasarawa arrest, describing it as part of the ongoing efforts to curb illegal mining in the country.
Add a comment
