Bopolu, Gbarpolu County – Gao Feng, alias Barry and commonly known as “the Real Minister,” a Chinese national, along with some of his compatriots and several Liberians, have been indicted by the Special Grand Jurors for Gbarpolu County. FrontPage Africa gathered that this occurred on Thursday, July 11, 2024, for economic sabotage, tax evasion, and criminal conspiracy related to allegedly running a criminal cartel in the Liberian mining sector.
According to court documents, the defendants used their exploration licenses granted by the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) to engage in illicit mining activities in Belle Mining Agency, Belle District, Gbarpolu County, causing the Government of Liberia several million United States dollars in losses from March to December 2023.
FPA has learned that about six Chinese nationals were arrested by the court as a result of the indictment and writ of arrest. They are now detained in Bopolu, Gbarpolu County, awaiting trial, while others are being apprehended.
This followed an investigation by the Ministry of Mines and Energy into allegations of illicit mining activities at various sites. The investigation revealed that within the Belle Mining District, Xin Li Da Investment Development Ltd. misused its exploration license MEL7008623. In affiliation with Liberia Xian Shi Development Co. Ltd, they deployed four excavators and two washing plants to conduct illicit mining as of March 2023.
The Ministry’s investigation found that a portion of their illicit mining sites encroached on NEO Global Mines & Minerals Inc.’s exploration license. Extensive environmental damage was observed with no evidence of soil reclamation. “They have violated Section 6.1, Section 1.3 (o), 6.7 (d), and Section 8.2 of the Minerals and Mining Act of 2000,” the report stated. Sites illicitly mined by Xin Li Da Investment Development Ltd. in affiliation with Liberia Xian Shi Development Co., Ltd. are located within Belle Yallah.
Additionally, the Ministry alleged that Scott Investment Incorporation, in affiliation with Liberia Xian Shi Development Co., Ltd., deployed three excavators and two washing plants to conduct illicit mining within the NEO Global Mines & Minerals Inc. exploration license area as of March 2023. Scott Investment Incorporation has also been using its Exploration License MEL9005123 to continue its illicit mining in association with Urban & Rural Services Inc., with an increased number of equipment, including four excavators and three washing plants. Extensive environmental damage was observed with no evidence of soil reclamation. They have violated Section 6.1, Section 1.3 (o), 6.7 (d), and Section 8.2 of the Minerals and Mining Law of 2000.
The investigation also revealed that Randell & Oretha S. Doe Multipurpose Company used its Exploration License MEL9004723 and affiliated with Mr. Xia Shi Gang to deploy nine excavators and six washing plants to conduct illicit mining from March 2023 to the present. A portion of its illicit mining area encroached on NEO Global Mines & Minerals Inc.’s exploration license area. Extensive environmental damage was observed with no evidence of soil reclamation.
Moreover, Randell & Oretha S. Doe Multipurpose Company used its Class B Mining License AM2007023 as a cover to conduct illicit mining outside of the granted Class B license area. Extensive environmental damage was observed with no evidence of soil reclamation. They have violated Section 6.1, Section 1.3 (o), 6.7 (d), and Section 8.2 of the Minerals and Mining Law of 2000. Sites illicitly mined by Randell & Oretha S. Doe Multipurpose Company in affiliation with Mr. Xia Shi Gang within Belle Yallah were indicated.
Additionally, Randell & Oretha S. Doe Multipurpose Company, in affiliation with Mr. Xia Shi Gang, used the Class B Mining License AM2007023 as a cover to conduct illicit mining outside of its granted license area within Belle Yallah, violating Section 22.6 of the Minerals and Mining Law of 2000.
The Ministry added, “Money Man Jackson has been conducting illicit mining using one excavator in NEO Global Mines & Minerals Inc.’s exploration license area since 2022 to the present. Extensive environmental damage was observed with no evidence of soil reclamation. Sites mined/depleted by Money Man Jackson’s illicit mining activities violated Section 6.1 and Section 8.2 of the Minerals and Mining Law of 2000.”
Liberia is rich in gold and diamond, but illicit mining activities, resulting from weak mining laws and inadequate monitoring systems, have been a significant challenge in the sector. This undermines government revenue generation and causes widespread environmental issues.
