The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has taken decisive action in its ongoing efforts to combat illegal mineral exportation, apprehending two Chinese nationals and two Nigerians in Enugu. These arrests follow an attempt to unlawfully export solid minerals from Nigeria.
The EFCC, through its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, confirmed the identity of the suspects as Chinese nationals Wang Jiang and Wang Richard, alongside Nigerians Donatus Agupusi and Michael Benneth Agu. The operation commenced at Akanu Ibiam International Airport on November 3, 2024, when Wang Jiang was intercepted with concealed minerals during routine luggage screenings.
Upon discovering three wrapped packages of suspected solid minerals in Wang’s baggage, further investigation ensued, leading authorities to connect Agupusi, owner of Great Wall Construction Limited, as the employer of the detained individuals. The suspects lacked essential export documentation required by Nigeria’s mining and export regulations, confirming the illegal nature of their intended actions.
According to the EFCC, Jiang’s purpose for transporting the minerals was ostensibly for testing in China; however, without valid export permits, such transport constitutes a breach of national policies governing Nigeria’s natural resources. “Preliminary findings confirm that the suspects lacked authorization to transport solid minerals outside Nigeria, violating the nation’s mining and export regulations,” Oyewale stated.
The EFCC’s commitment to halting unauthorized mineral exploitation is evident, with officials indicating that formal charges will be filed against the suspects upon conclusion of the investigation. This crackdown is part of a broader initiative by the EFCC to safeguard Nigeria’s resources from exploitation and unauthorized international transactions. Similar operations have resulted in the arrest of Chinese nationals in other regions, underscoring the agency’s proactive stance against unlawful resource exportation.
