Hard Facts investigation exposes Chinese Mafia

Monday, June 23, 2025

In a groundbreaking investigative report, Hard Facts Newspaper has uncovered the identities and operations of a powerful Chinese criminal network operating within Liberia’s mining sector. The investigation names Yang Dan and Gao Feng as the key masterminds behind an extensive multi-million-dollar fraud scheme that is not only duping fellow Chinese nationals but also exploiting Liberia’s rich mineral resources and fragile regulatory systems. While Liberia continues to present itself as a land of opportunity, blessed with rich deposits of gold and diamonds and an improving investment climate, our findings paint a very different picture. Hidden behind the veil of foreign investment, a Chinese mafia style syndicate has embedded itself within Liberia’s gold and diamond sector, systematically exploiting both foreign investors and the Liberian state.

Hard Facts investigation reveals that Yang Dan, operating under false pretenses, has scammed millions of U.S. dollars from fellow Chinese investors by misrepresenting himself as the majority shareholder of Duke Global Investment Limited, a Liberian-registered company. According to legal documents and ongoing court proceedings, Yang is accused of fabricating ownership status and using forged corporate documents to offer bogus shares, lure investors and doping them of over US$4.5 million. Six Chinese nationals Luo Wei, Bingli Guo, Chunmei Yin, Hong Yin, Wei Jing, and Lijun Ding have jointly filed a criminal complaint against Yang with the Liberia National Police (LNP). Their claims include fraudulent misrepresentation, unauthorized use of company documents, and theft of investment funds under false pretenses. Police authorities have confirmed that a formal investigation is underway into Yang Dan’s activities.

Simultaneously, Gao Feng, known infamously among local government insiders as the “Real Minister of Mines,” has been indicted by the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) for economic sabotage, criminal conspiracy, and massive tax evasion. Operating under numerous business fronts, including Urban & Rural Services Inc., Xin Li Da Investment Development Ltd., Scott Investment Inc., and Liberia Xian Shi Development Co., Gao’s enterprise has unlawfully mined across seven counties Gbarpolu, Montserrado, Bong, Grand Bassa, Lofa, Sinoe, and Maryland causing an estimated $29 to $49 million in revenue losses for Liberia. Despite his indictment in mid-2024 and the arrest of seven associates in Gbarpolu County, Gao Feng remains at large. Hard Facts has obtained evidence suggesting that key individuals within the Liberian Legislature are obstructing the judicial process, offering Gao political protection in exchange for financial or political favors.

Gao reportedly once declared in a WhatsApp voice note:

 “I am the real Minister of MME! I am the law; just watch and see!”

This brazen declaration encapsulates the extent of his influence and the regulatory collapse that allows such syndicates to flourish in broad daylight. In one particularly egregious case, NEO Global Mines & Minerals Inc., a legitimate foreign investor, saw its mining license illegally revoked in late 2023. Within just 29 minutes, a new license was issued to Scott Investment Inc., a Gao-controlled front. When NEO objected, Gao responded with threats, further demonstrating the mafia-style intimidation tactics being employed. Gao and Yang’s networks thrive on deception. They routinely set up fake partnerships, establish dummy corporations, underreport production, and evade taxes. Their operations have caused irreversible environmental damage, leaving communities in Bong, Grand Bassa, and Gbarpolu counties with polluted rivers, destroyed farmland, and unregulated excavation sites. These illegal activities, conducted under the cover of corporate legitimacy and diplomatic ambiguity, not only rob investors but also strip Liberia of natural wealth, compromise community health, and contribute to corruption at every level of governance.

Despite mounting public pressure, the judicial system has shown signs of interference. Hard Facts has received reports of backroom lobbying efforts by senior government officials attempting to soften charges, reduce bond payments, and influence bail rulings. The scale and boldness of this syndicate bear a strong resemblance to similar patterns of illegal Chinese mining operations in Central African Republic and Democratic Republic of Congo, where authorities have also struggled to regulate resource theft by transnational criminal networks posing as investors.

Hard Facts is calling on the Liberian Government, civil society, international donors, and anti-corruption agencies to take swift and decisive action: Empower the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) with full autonomy and resources to trace money flows and prosecute economic crimes; enforce judicial independence to resist political manipulation and ensure suspects like Gao Feng and Yang Dan face the full weight of the law; review all mining licenses issued from 2020–2024, especially those involving Gao-linked entities; protect whistleblowers and investigators from retaliation by well-connected crime rings; coordinate with international partners, including Interpol and regional governments, to issue travel bans and asset freezes against key figures; hold public hearings and parliamentary inquiries into illegal mining practices and legislative complicity.

Gao Feng and Yang Dan represent more than just white collar criminals; they are symbols of a deeper crisis in Liberia’s extractive governance. Their ability to operate with impunity despite widespread evidence and public outcry demonstrates the urgent need for institutional reform. As the nation seeks to rebuild credibility and secure long-term foreign investment, this case must become a turning point. Justice must prevail not only for the duped investors but for the thousands of Liberians affected by illegal mining, environmental abuse, and economic sabotage.