Gold smuggler tied to Kenyan plunder is back — now in Zimbabwe
1 year, 9 months ago

Gold smuggler tied to Kenyan plunder is back — now in Zimbabwe

Al Jazeera  

Kamlesh Pattni, implicated in the Goldenberg scandal which almost bankrupted Kenya, is now smuggling gold from Zimbabwe. A gold smuggler implicated in a scandal that robbed Kenya of 10 percent of its GDP in the 1990s has moved his smuggling operation to Zimbabwe and Dubai, Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit can reveal. Kamlesh Pattni was involved in the so-called Goldenberg scam, a gold smuggling operation that robbed Kenya of $600mn and led to charges of corruption against many members of then President Daniel Arap Moi’s government. He would do this by effectively turning the dirty money into gold that is exported from Zimbabwe to Dubai, where Pattni owns several gold-trading companies. ‘Always have the king with you’ During the secretly recorded conversations with Al Jazeera reporters, Pattni claimed that the country’s president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, was aware of his gold-smuggling and money laundering operations.

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History of this topic

South Africa to investigate gold mafia uncovered by Al Jazeera
1 year, 7 months ago

South Africa to investigate gold mafia uncovered by Al Jazeera

Al Jazeera  

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that authorities are looking at several individuals mentioned in Al Jazeera. South Africa has launched an investigation into several people involved in a gold smuggling and money laundering scheme exposed by Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit. “Details of the steps that are being taken cannot be divulged at this stage without compromising the investigation.” The investigation is …

Six secrets uncovered by Al Jazee​​ra’s Gold Mafia investigation
1 year, 8 months ago

Six secrets uncovered by Al Jazee​​ra’s Gold Mafia investigation

Al Jazeera  

Here are the key takeaways from the investigation into Southern Africa’s biggest gold and money laundering operations. Alistair Mathias, one of the money launderers who met with Al Jazeera’s undercover reporters, told them he has been using gold as a means to move money for several African heads of state. Rushwaya told Al Jazeera reporters that they could park their …

Is Zimbabwe’s President Mnangagwa behind gold smuggling?
1 year, 8 months ago

Is Zimbabwe’s President Mnangagwa behind gold smuggling?

Al Jazeera  

One gold smuggler described Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa as his business partner. “There’s a big difference in appreciating somebody and bribing.” Doolan, who used the nickname Mr Jones for Mnangagwa, told the reporters: “What we’re gonna do is take all of that appreciation and give it to Mr Jones.” In the end, Al Jazeera did not pay the $200,000 requested …

What draws the gold mafia to Dubai?
1 year, 8 months ago

What draws the gold mafia to Dubai?

Al Jazeera  

Over the last 20 years, Dubai has become one of the biggest gold-trading hubs in the world. Dubai, Dubai, Dubai,” Zimbabwean gold smuggler Ewan Macmillan told undercover reporters from Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit. Asked if authorities in Dubai might scrutinise the company he had asked the Al Jazeera team to set up, Mathias said: “They don’t bother.” ‘Practically brand new …

Swiss gold or smuggled Zimbabwean gold? No one knows
1 year, 8 months ago

Swiss gold or smuggled Zimbabwean gold? No one knows

Al Jazeera  

A complex gold smuggling and trading system means there is no clean gold, an Al Jazeera investigation shows. The ‘Swiss gold’ stamp Al Jazeera’s undercover reporters, pretending to be Chinese criminals, were offered a range of options to launder more than $100m of dirty cash by multiple smuggling gangs using Zimbabwean gold. “The Dubai gold would for instance be exported …

Zimbabwe to investigate gold smuggling after Al Jazeera expose
1 year, 8 months ago

Zimbabwe to investigate gold smuggling after Al Jazeera expose

Al Jazeera  

The government of Zimbabwe says it will launch investigations into several people involved in gold smuggling and money laundering following the release of an undercover Al Jazeera investigation showing high-ranking officials involved in the illicit gold trade. Gold Mafia, a four-part series by the Al Jazeera Investigative Unit, shows among others one of Zimbabwe’s highest-ranking diplomats offering to launder large …

Who are the Gold Mafia? A cigarette don and a man named ‘Dollars’
1 year, 8 months ago

Who are the Gold Mafia? A cigarette don and a man named ‘Dollars’

Al Jazeera  

They operate from the shadows. Al Jazeera’s investigation shows that his web of crime extends far beyond that, to an elaborate money laundering and gold smuggling scheme that helps him hide millions of dollars of unaccounted cash. At the centre of Rudland’s money laundering operations is a company in Dubai called Aulion that buys Zimbabwean gold using his dirty cash. …

How Zimbabwe uses gold smuggling to evade sanctions choke
1 year, 8 months ago

How Zimbabwe uses gold smuggling to evade sanctions choke

Al Jazeera  

Zimbabwe’s government is using smuggling gangs to sell gold worth hundreds of millions of dollars, skirting some of the consequences of tough Western sanctions imposed on the country over human rights abuses, Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit can reveal. But although gold trade itself is not barred, the additional scrutiny sanctions bring on Zimbabwean officials smother the government’s ability to transact …

Who are the Gold Mafia? Godmen, conmen and a president’s niece
1 year, 9 months ago

Who are the Gold Mafia? Godmen, conmen and a president’s niece

Al Jazeera  

Gangs that smuggle gold and launder money, that is what the Gold Mafia investigation is about. At the end of one of his conversations with the undercover reporters, where he outlined how he could help them launder more than $100mn, he said: “I don’t know how you came to me, but I think God must have sent you.” When confronted …

How a ‘Gold Mafia’ is looting Southern Africa, washing dirty cash
1 year, 9 months ago

How a ‘Gold Mafia’ is looting Southern Africa, washing dirty cash

Al Jazeera  

An investigation by Al Jazeera has revealed some of Southern Africa’s largest gold-smuggling operations, exposing how these gangs help criminals around the world launder billions of dollars while aiding governments in circumventing international sanctions. The investigation reveals how billions of dollars’ worth of gold is smuggled every month from Zimbabwe to Dubai, allowing criminals to whitewash dirty money through a …

Top Zimbabwe ambassador involved in gold smuggling scheme
1 year, 9 months ago

Top Zimbabwe ambassador involved in gold smuggling scheme

Al Jazeera  

One of Zimbabwe’s most influential diplomats, Uebert Angel, offered to use his status to launder millions of dollars through a gold-smuggling scheme, during an undercover operation by Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit. Angel, appointed ambassador-at-large and a presidential envoy by Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa in March 2021, told reporters he would be able to carry large volumes of dirty cash into …

US sanctions Uganda gold dealer, citing illicit Congo origin
2 years, 9 months ago

US sanctions Uganda gold dealer, citing illicit Congo origin

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The U.S. announced sanctions late …

3 nabbed at Johannesburg airport with gold in carry-on bags
3 years, 11 months ago

3 nabbed at Johannesburg airport with gold in carry-on bags

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy South African police are investigating …

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