DRC officials seized thousands of tonnes of copper and cobalt and more than 500 trucks plus other vehicles and machinery after a committee of police, military and mining ministry officials inspected Lualaba and Haut-Katanga provinces, the justice ministry said on Monday. The justice minister has ordered an investigation into allegations of widespread illegal mining; the operation may have uncovered mining fraud, illegal extraction and mineral smuggling. The DRC is the world’s largest supplier of

DRC officials seized thousands of tonnes of copper and cobalt and more than 500 trucks plus other vehicles and machinery after a committee of police, military and mining ministry officials inspected Lualaba and Haut-Katanga provinces, the justice ministry said on Monday. The justice minister has ordered an investigation into allegations of widespread illegal mining; the operation may have uncovered mining fraud, illegal extraction and mineral smuggling. The DRC is the world’s largest supplier of cobalt and the second-largest producer of copper and has long struggled to prevent artisanal miners from encroaching on large concession areas held by international mining companies.