On Friday 21 August 2020, customs officials in the Congolese border city of Goma confiscated 585,5kg of coltan illegally destined for neighbouring Rwanda.
Improved surveillance at Grand Barrier border post, which includes the installations of modern scanners, made it possible for officials to locate the precious metal stashed in sacs of 22 .
Apart from the upgrade in surveillance equipments, the performance of service at the border has increased significantly, tightening control over the transportation and passage of goods.
For the Directorate General of Customs and Excise in the Province of North Kivu, the mineral bust was as a result of commitment made by its officials to prevent smugglers from depriving the Congolese government of its resources, which also tends to empoverished the Congolese people.
Last week a similar bust was made at the same port of entry with 1200 kg of coltan found hidden in an oil tank. The tank was also said to be destined for Rwanda.
Some of Congo's coltans are sourced from mines controlled by militia groups; and countless reports from international organisations have previously listed Rwanda as the gateway for channelling these conflict minerals to the global market.
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