Overview

• An estimated 435 metric tons of gold, worth more than $30 billion, was smuggled out of Africa in 2022.
• The United Arab Emirates is the primary destination, receiving over 90% of the illicit gold.
• Smuggled gold often gains legal status once imported into the UAE, complicating traceability.
• Swissaid calls for stricter border controls and formalization of artisanal mining in Africa.
• The report underscores the need for international cooperation to address the illicit gold trade.