Gold worth billions smuggled out of Africa

A miner emerges from a pit near Doropo, Ivory Coast. Many “artisanal” miners relish the chance to make a better living than they could in farming.

Billions of dollars’ worth of gold is being smuggled out of Africa every year through the United Arab Emirates in the Middle East – a gateway to markets in Europe, the United States and beyond – a Reuters analysis has found.

Customs data shows that the UAE imported $15.1 billion (Sh1.5 trillion) worth of gold from Africa in 2016, more than any other country and up from $1.3 billion in 2006. The total weight was 446 tonnes, in varying degrees of purity – up from 67 tonnes in 2006.