RADIO STUDIO INTRO: More details are emerging about a dramatic crime bust the authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo say they have executed in the eastern city of Goma. The story, as told by the governor of the region, involves millions of dollars in cash, suitcases full of smuggled gold and the arrest of a number of foreign nationals including Americans and Nigerians. The BBC’s International Development Correspondent Mark Doyle reports.)
REPORTER VOICE: If the film rights for this story haven’t been sold already, they may well be soon because its hard to imagine a more colourful plot.
First, a plane registered in the United States flies in, via Nigeria, to the eastern Congolese city of Goma.
On board, in the shadow of the volcanoes that loom over Goma airport, are the mainly American crew and four passengers - made up of another American, two Nigerians and a Frenchman.
Their mission, according to the Congolese governor of the region was to buy smuggled gold with several million dollars in cash.
A United Nations-controlled radio station in Congo reported that the suspicions of the airport authorites were raised by the appearance on the tarmac of an army officer close to a notorious former rebel general who lives in Goma.
The former rebel General is wanted by the International Criminal Court in The Hague for using child soldiers and goes by the nickname “The Terminator”.
The army officer objected to a search of the plane, but the local governor insisted.
Based on what was found the crew and the passengers were then arrested. But not before, according to one report, a car chase took place on the streets inbetween the airport and the home of The Terminator.
Eastern Congo is an often lawless area where precious minerals including gold are mined by rebels or corrupt government soldiers.
The President of Congo, Joseph Kabila, recently ordered a ban on mining in the area to stop what he called “mafia” groups benefiting from the trade.
The local governor in Goma says the latest arrests show that that policy is working. Other say the arrests indicate that criminal elements are still operating in the area.
