The details are tough to sort, but former NBA defensive star Dikembe Mutombo was allegedly involved in setting up a sizable gold deal in Kenya that ended up with a Congolese general seizing $10 million worth of the mineral and the New York-based purchaser spending $30 million to free hostages taken in central Africa.
Dikembe Mutombo Allegedly Involved In Botched Gold Smuggling Deal
The Houston Chronicle has the details; the story follows extensive reporting in early 2011 when the story broke as a Houston-based energy executive, Kase Lawal, owned a plane seized by Congolese militia. Lawal's brother was onboard the plane.
But not known until now was that it was Dikembe, his sons and two nephews who put the plan to allegedly smuggle $10 million in gold from Congo through Kenya to the United States. The deal eventually fell apart as Congolese government officials were tipped to the scheme.
I always knew Dikembe was a Bond villain masquerading as a basketball player.
MORE NBA: Latest power rankings have Bulls on top.
Follow @sbnation on Twitter | Like SB Nation on Facebook | Sign up for our Newsletter
See More:
