Billions of dollars worth of gold is smuggled out of Africa every year, much of it going to Dubai before being legally re-exported to other countries, a Swiss NGO said.
Development NGO Swissaid released a report saying that 321-474 tonnes of African gold extracted through artisanal and small-scale mining is not declared each year, with a value of between USD 24 and 35 billion, AFP reported.
Africa is the world's main gold-producing continent, with Ghana, South Africa, Mali and Burkina Faso leading production in 2022.
According to the NGO, African gold smuggling is on the rise, "more than doubling between 2012 and 2022."
The NGO said the precious metal is "a source of income for millions of artisanal miners, a major source of revenue for many governments, a means of financing armed groups and a cause of serious human rights abuses and environmental degradation".
The report identifies Dubai as an international hub for the trade in African gold, which is then transported to countries such as Switzerland.
The NGO estimates that in 2022, "66.5% (405 tonnes) of gold imported into the UAE from Africa was smuggled out of African countries".
It arrives in Dubai by plane, "in hand luggage or in the hold, on scheduled flights or on private jets".
The emirate is home to gold refineries and thousands of dealers in precious metals and gems.
From there, African gold is sent mainly to Switzerland, which is its 'second largest importer', and also to India.
Under Swiss law, the last place where gold is processed is its place of origin, so gold arriving in Switzerland cannot be traced back to Africa, the NGO explains.
The report covers the period from 2012 to 2022 and is based on data collected from 54 African countries, with gold production data matched against official export and import figures. / BGNES
