Chinese National Arrested for Money Laundering Involving Millions of Dollars
The Drug Enforcement Commission’s Anti-Money Laundering Investigations Unit has apprehended and charged a Chinese national, Longrong Chen, aged 29, for money laundering offenses involving over 14.9 million United States dollars and over 3 million Zambian Kwacha.
In a statement issued by Drug Enforcement Commission’s Public Relations Officer, Hussein Khan, the charges against Chen stem from activities conducted between November 1, 2022, and September 29, 2023.
During this period, the suspect, in collaboration with unknown individuals, received approximately USD 248,993.00 in the company’s dollar account through an isolated cyber fraud incident.
Additionally, large deposits and transfers totaling about USD 14,704,274.44 and ZMW 3,031,775.00 flowed into the business accounts of Crowline Trading Limited, the company for which Chen served as a manager and signatory.
These funds are suspected to be the proceeds of criminal activities. Furthermore, these amounts were subsequently transferred to offshore accounts, falsely portraying them as purchases of goods.
Chen has been formally charged with possession of property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime and money laundering.
In a separate operation in Lusaka’s Chawama township, the commission also arrested Alice Phiri, aged 24, and Brian Zulu, aged 40, for possession of counterfeit notes exceeding USD 170,000.00.
Additionally, the commission arrested and charged Amukwe Mubuyaeta, a 41-year-old male, for obtaining credit by false pretenses and money laundering. Mubuyaeta, in collaboration with others, fraudulently secured a loan of K80,000 from a known microfinance company between January 1, 2023, and September 11, 2023, by falsely representing himself as a medical doctor employed under the Ministry of Health at the University Teaching Hospital.
All suspects will be appearing in court soon. The public is urged to safeguard their identity documents, such as National Registration Cards, due to the increasing levels of fraud in the country. Financial institutions are also encouraged to expedite their due diligence protocols to protect their clients.
This story has been adopted from the Drug Enforcement Commission, Zambia.
