NAIROBI, Kenya, April 13 — Twenty-nine Kenyans have been arrested in India after being discovered in possession of gold valued at over Ksh500 million. Indian authorities reported that the gold, weighing 29 kilograms, was seized at Mumbai Airport. These arrests underscore Kenya’s increasing role as a regional transit hub for illicit gold flows to markets such as India and the United Arab Emirates.
Most of the smuggled gold is believed to originate from conflict-prone countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and South Sudan, entering Kenya through its porous borders. Authorities have expressed concerns about the rise of illegal gold trade networks that exploit weak border controls and regional instability. Additionally, Kenya has experienced an uptick in fake gold scams, where fraudsters forge documents such as mining licenses and customs paperwork to deceive buyers, resulting in significant financial losses.
The recent arrests highlight the growing scrutiny on cross-border mineral trade as governments intensify their efforts to combat smuggling and protect investors.
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