ZACC Arrests Ning Yaokun for Lithium Smuggling Operation

• ZACC arrested Ning Yaokun, a director of Orequest (Pvt) Ltd, on September 10 for alleged involvement in smuggling over 720 tonnes of unbeneficiated lithium ore.
• Mr. Yaokun faces charges including contravening the Customs and Excise Act, attempted smuggling, and unlawful dealing, with his appearance expected at the Harare Magistrates' Court.
• The alleged syndicate operated an illegal processing facility in Ruwa and used fraudulent documents, purportedly from Bikita Minerals, to facilitate exports.
• Authorities intercepted several trucks and recovered 420 tonnes of lithium ore, along with equipment, though the total financial prejudice to the state remains unquantified.
• This arrest aligns with the Zimbabwean government's broader initiative to halt raw mineral exports and encourage local beneficiation.

This high-profile Harare Magistrates Court lithium case serves as a clear signal of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission's commitment to enforcing regulations surrounding the export of unbeneficiated lithium and other valuable resources.

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has taken action against a director of Orequest (Pvt) Ltd, Ning Yaokun, a Chinese national also known as Tony, in connection with an extensive alleged mineral smuggling operation. Mr. Yaokun surrendered to authorities on September 10 and is slated to appear before the Harare Magistrates' Court to face charges. The allegations center on a syndicate accused of illegally exporting over 720 tonnes of unbeneficiated lithium ore from Zimbabwe, facilitated by fraudulent export documentation.

ZACC has formally charged Mr. Yaokun with contravening the Customs and Excise Act, attempted smuggling, and unlawful dealing. This arrest is part of a broader investigation into the alleged scheme, which has already seen several other individuals remanded. Among those already implicated are Orequest finance director MinMin Song, Shuvai Muza, and Charlene Chivandire. Authorities continue to search for another suspect, identified only as Malvern, who remains at large.

Investigators allege that Orequest (Pvt) Ltd maintained an illicit mineral-processing and dispatch facility situated at Plot 5, Cheltenham Park Drive, Ruwa. This site was reportedly used for stockpiling and preparing lithium ore for export. The operation is said to have become fully functional in May 2026, with members of the syndicate allegedly orchestrating the creation of fraudulent paperwork and arranging for trucks to transport the mineral to the Forbes Border Post in Mutare.

The syndicate purportedly utilized documents that falsely claimed to originate from Bikita Minerals to enable the export of the lithium. This sophisticated method of deception allowed for the movement of significant quantities of the valuable mineral, circumventing legal export channels and regulatory oversight.

The alleged smuggling activities included multiple transport incidents. In July, twenty-three trucks, reportedly carrying approximately 690 tonnes of lithium ore, are said to have passed through Forbes Border Post using the fraudulent documentation. Following this, two additional trucks transported lithium ore to the Port of Beira in Mozambique, where the cargo was allegedly offloaded on July 22. Further interdictions occurred when three other trucks, carrying a combined 60 tonnes, were stopped after presenting what authorities deemed to be fraudulent export documents.

Subsequent investigations led to the discovery and recovery of substantial quantities of lithium ore. A stockpile of 300 tonnes was found at the Ruwa premises, while another 60 tonnes was located in containers abandoned at a truck stop in Lochinvar, Harare. An additional 60 tonnes was intercepted at Forbes Border Post, bringing the total recovered mineral to 420 tonnes. ZACC also seized various pieces of equipment allegedly used in the operation, including a jaw crusher, a front-end loader, TLB machines, a heavy-duty generator, and twenty wheelbarrows. The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development is currently working to determine the precise value of both the smuggled and recovered lithium.

ZACC has indicated that the alleged mineral smuggling caused financial prejudice to the state, though the full extent of these losses has not yet been quantified. This case, involving Ning Yaokun and Orequest Pvt Ltd, underscores the government's intensified efforts to curb the illegal export of raw minerals and to promote local beneficiation and value addition within Zimbabwe. The charges under the Customs and Excise Act highlight the serious legal consequences for such activities.

The ongoing nature of the investigation means that ZACC continues to pursue leads and seek additional suspects involved in the alleged mineral-smuggling syndicate. This high-profile Harare Magistrates Court lithium case serves as a clear signal of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission's commitment to enforcing regulations surrounding the export of unbeneficiated lithium and other valuable resources.

This arrest signals intensified enforcement against illegal mineral exports and fraudulent documentation in Zimbabwe, particularly for unbeneficiated lithium. Legal and compliance professionals advising mining or export/import clients must ensure rigorous due diligence on export permits and supply chain integrity to mitigate significant legal and financial risks under the Customs and Excise Act.

Source: Original reporting via 263Chat