HARARE – A Chinese national accused of involvement in a syndicate that allegedly smuggled 720 tonnes of unprocessed lithium ore out of the country using fraudulent export documents has been arrested.
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission said Ning Yaokun, also known as Tony, surrendered to authorities and was arrested Wednesday. He is a co-director of Orequest (Pvt) Ltd.
Yaokun was expected to appear before the Harare Magistrates’ Court on Thursday for an initial remand hearing.
He has been charged with attempted smuggling and unlawful dealing under the Customs and Excise Act.
According to ZACC, investigators established that Orequest allegedly operated an illegal mineral-processing and dispatch site at Plot 5, Cheltenham Park Drive, Ruwa, where lithium ore was stockpiled and processed for export.
The alleged syndicate used fraudulent documentation to facilitate exports of lithium ore through Forbes Border Post in Mutare, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission said.
Investigators found that 720 tonnes of unbeneficiated lithium ore had allegedly been smuggled out of Zimbabwe, causing financial losses to the state. Authorities have yet to determine the full value of the alleged losses.
ZACC said it recovered another 420 tonnes of lithium ore during its investigation, including 300 tonnes from the Ruwa site.
Another 60 tonnes were recovered from two containers abandoned at a truck stop in Harare’s Lochinvar area, while 60 tonnes were intercepted at Forbes Border Post.
Authorities also seized equipment allegedly used in the operation, including a jaw crusher, front-end loader, TLB machines, heavy-duty generator and 20 wheelbarrows.
Three other suspects – Minmin Song, a Chinese national, Shuvai Muza and Charlene Chivandire – have already appeared in court and are on remand, according to ZACC.
Another suspect identified only as Malvern remains at large.
