Pair accused of smuggling tonnes of minerals to Asia

It is alleged that the accused illegally exported 780 tonnes of lead, 2 310 tonnes of quartz, 180 tonnes of copper, 30 tonnes of antimony, 60 tonnes of lithium and 390 tonnes of chrome to China and Malaysia without lawful authority.

Prosper Dembedza

Herald Correspondent

Two Chinese nationals have appeared in court facing allegations of smuggling large quantities of minerals out of Zimbabwe in a scheme allegedly carried out in connivance with officials from the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) and other agencies.

Peng Jinming, a haulage transport operator, and Qu Lel, owner of Leich Battery Recycle, which specialises in smelting lead blocks, appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Jessie Kufa on charges of smuggling and fraud.

The State alleges that in July 2025, the two accused hatched a plan to illegally export minerals and related products to China and Malaysia.

Acting in common purpose, the pair allegedly devised a method to smuggle lithium, chrome, copper, antimony, lead and quartz by circumventing export regulations.

Prosecutors further allege that the accused connived with officials from the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra), the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe, and other accomplices who are still at large, to bypass an export ban and facilitate the illicit shipments through Forbes Border Post.

It is alleged that the accused illegally exported 780 tonnes of lead, 2 310 tonnes of quartz, 180 tonnes of copper, 30 tonnes of antimony, 60 tonnes of lithium and 390 tonnes of chrome to China and Malaysia without lawful authority.

To evade export duties and taxes, the accused allegedly falsified declarations, at times claiming that containers were empty or misrepresenting the contents as authorised exports.

The court heard that the minerals were concealed in containers disguised as carrying legitimate cargo or no cargo at all.

As a result of the alleged offences, the State suffered prejudice, the value of which is yet to be ascertained.

No recoveries have been made.

The accused persons were not authorised to export the minerals in the manner alleged, the court heard.

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