David Tait, CEO of the World Gold Council, said that global gold smuggling is evolving into a “crisis,” driven by issues such as conflict, sanctions evasion, and illicit financial flows. He noted that the volume of illicit gold in circulation currently “far exceeds $120 billion” annually, primarily originating from artisanal and small-scale mining.
The escalation of this problem is closely linked to gold price trends. Gold prices have nearly doubled over the past two years; although they have retreated somewhat recently, the overall high levels have significantly stimulated the growth of illegal activities and exacerbated violent conflicts in places such as Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Once refined, gold possesses completely uniform chemical properties, making its origin difficult to trace—a characteristic that makes it a favored tool for money laundering and criminal networks.
Ruth Crowell, CEO of the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA), noted that rising gold prices have made curbing illicit flows “even more urgent.” Speaking at the Sustainable and Responsible Sourcing Summit co-hosted by the LBMA and the World Gold Council, she said: “‘If you’re trying to move illicit funds around the globe, it becomes easier as gold prices rise significantly.’”
In response to gold smuggling, governments in the United States, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates are evaluating countermeasures, including the use of metal detectors at airport entry points and the strengthening of regulations governing the sourcing of gold.