In a significant crackdown on illicit gold trading, the UK and USA have imposed sanctions on Kamlesh Pattni, a British-Kenyan businessman, along with 27 others linked to gold smuggling and money laundering as of December 9, 2024. This announcement coincided with International Anti-Corruption Day, highlighting the global commitment to combat corruption in the gold sector. Pattni, who gained notoriety through the Al Jazeera documentary 'Gold Mafia', is accused of bribing officials and concealing ownership of gold operations through proxies. His network allegedly smuggled gold from Zimbabwe to the UAE, enriching corrupt officials and criminal syndicates while depriving citizens of their rightful profits. The US Treasury stated that Pattni's activities have severely harmed Zimbabwe's economy, prompting the sanctions aimed at freezing his assets and disrupting the illicit gold trade linked to corruption and human rights abuses. Additionally, the UK government has echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need for accountability in the gold sector. Pattni's controversial history includes his involvement in the Goldenberg scandal during the 1990s, which has had lasting repercussions on Kenya's economy. The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has also taken action by freezing the accounts of individuals connected to the Gold Mafia documentary, marking a significant international effort to curb illicit financial flows. This development comes amid ongoing investigations into gold smuggling practices, including recent arrests in South Africa involving Joacham Chivayo and Ayanda Brian Gungwa, who were apprehended with gold valued at $780,000. The scrutiny of gold trading practices is intensifying, raising concerns about the complex and often illicit nature of the gold trade across multiple countries, including the UAE, Singapore, and Kyrgyzstan. [348ee145][ffb98a45][b168d2bc][8ee6960d]