Mining smuggling refers to any operation involving the illegal removal from national territory of mineral substances — raw, concentrated or processed — by evading customs, tax, administrative and security controls.

It is a serious offence that undermines the strategic interests of the Democratic Republic of Congo and compromises the international traceability of Congolese minerals.

Under Article 4 of Decree No. 23/19 of 9 June 2023, mining smuggling notably includes:

• Clandestine transport of minerals to neighbouring countries via unauthorised routes;
• Use of tracks, roads or unofficial crossing points to bypass control posts;
• Concealment or camouflage of cargo in vehicles, containers or mixed goods;
• Forgery or fabrication of false export documents (declarations, certificates, waybills, authorisations);
• Complicity of cross-border networks involving individuals, organised groups or economic operators;
• Any transaction aimed at removing mineral substances from legal control, in violation of the Mining Code and Mining Regulations.

These practices lead to:

• Major financial losses for the State;
• Erosion of public revenue;
• Breakdown of the traceability chain;
• Risk of international sanctions for non-compliance with due diligence standards (OECD, ICGLR, EITI).

In accordance with Articles 5, 6, 7 and 8 of Decree No. 23/19, the General Mine Inspection carries out coordinated actions to:

• Secure mining corridors from the extraction site to the export point;
• Strengthen controls on roads, border posts, ports and airports;
• Dismantle cross-border criminal networks in collaboration with:
• DGDA;
• Congolese National Police;
• CENAREF;
• Interpol (NCB);
• CEEC;
• Provincial security services;
• Neighbouring countries' authorities.