The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, in its efforts to curb the non-payment of royalties on mineral resources in the country to the Federal Government, has arrested a 29-year-old Chinese, Gang Deng, for alleged illegal mining in Ilorin, Kwara State.

EFCC head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwajuaren, on Saturday, in a statement, said that Deng was arrested on Friday night, September 9, 2022 in Ilorin and found to be in possession of crude minerals without authority.

“A truckload of minerals suspected to be lepidolite was recovered from him,” the statement said.

It said that the suspect would be charged to court as soon as investigations on the matter are concluded.

Recall that the EFCC Ilorin Zonal Command recently arrested 13 suspected illegal miners operating in Kakafu village in Patigi Local Government Area of the state.

The suspects were arrested on Tuesday, August 30, 2022 during a joint operation by the EFCC, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development following credible intelligence received by the EFCC over some suspected illegal miners operating in the area.

The illegal miners, according to EFCC, were arrested over alleged non-payment of royalties to the Federal Government.