Bopolu – The Ministry of Mine and Energy Inspector General, Agatius Coker has arrested seven associates of popular Chinese miner, Gao Feng popularly known as Barry for reportedly defrauding the national government over US$29 million in Gbarpolu County.
By: Blamo N. Toe, contributing writer
Over the weekend, the Inspector General Coker embarked on an investigative tour with a team of joint security forces in Manokorlleh District, Gbarpolu County, where Barry’s mining site is located and raided the entire site as the 16th Judicial Circuit Court of Gbarpolu County arrested seven (7) of his cohorts for illicit mining.
The investigation by the Ministry was triggered by a complaint filed by the NEO Global Mines and Minerals Incorporated against Mr. Feng with the Xin Li Da Investment Development Limited, which was represented by Zheng Yi, Urban Urban and Rural Services Incorporated.
“Barry operates Liberia Xian Shi Development Company Limited represented by Li Yingjun, Xin Li Da Investment Development Limited, represented by Zheng Yi and Urban Urban and Rural Services Incorporated and the Scott Investment Incorporation represented by his Liberian contact person, named Randy Scott,” Coker said.
He added that Barry started his illicit mining activities in March, 2023 and he is encroaching on the NEO Global Mines and Minerals Incorporated’s exploration license area within Belle Yallah, Gbarpolu County without proper or legal documents.
The Court issued a Writ of Arrest for Gao Feng, actually known as Barry and famously called “The Real Minister of Mines” along with the seven associates, while over 50 of those involved in the acts along with him ran into the dark buses.
The Inspector General said Barry is proven to be untouchable by the Liberian government, asserting that the foreign national is being heavily protected by some top government officials whom he directly pays for his alleged acts at the detriment of the state.
“Barry who calls himself The Real Minister of Mines the Real Minister of Mines”, and his cohorts are conducting illicit mining activities with more than 100 excavators and 50 washing plants spread all over the country: Gbarpolu, Cape Mount, Montserrado, Grand Bassa, Magibi, Bong, Lofa, Grand Gedeh, River Gee, Sinoe and Maryland Counties for the past six (6) years,” he stressed.
According to him, the Chinese national has always told people that he is even at liberty to mine under the Executive Mansion without a license if minerals are found under there.
The Inspector General of Mines and Energy emphasized that the reported acts of Barry and his associates amount to economic sabotage, tax evasion and criminal conspiracy, especially with the defrauding the government of US$29,878,536 for illicit mining, stressing that his office will ensure that there will be “No Business As Usual” as stated by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai in the fight against corruption.
The Inspector General indicated that Barry has seven (7) excavators and nine (9) washing plants conducting illicit mining only in Gbarpolu County, adding that such number of equipment shows that the Chinese national is unprecedentedly looting the country’s natural resources in the other counties he operates in
Mr. Coker told The Liberian Investigator that Gao Feng alias Barry’s associates are already arrested and turned over to the 16th Judicial Circuit Court in Gbarpolu County for further legal actions.
However, he stressed that the individuals are expected to be transferred to Monrovia to face further legal actions if the case is tempered with by the local court in Gbarpolu.
Mr. Agatius Coker was appointed Inspector General of Mines and Energy on March 12, 2024 by President Boakai. He has vowed to be and remain rigid to ensure that the natural resources are protected for the Liberian people and work with legally registered mining institutions operating across the country in line with their assigned areas supported by the appropriate documents.
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