Gold Mafia shadow haunts Zimbabwe main airport

Zimbabwe's Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport has been singled out as a major conduit for gold smuggling, with Dubai in the United Arab Emirates emerging as the main destination for illicitly traded bullion, according to the latest 2025 report by the Global Initiative against Transnational Organised Crime (GI-TOC). South Africa's OR Tambo International Airport is also flagged as both an entry and exit point for smuggled gold.

The GI-TOC report highlights the role of both state and private sector actors in facilitating the smuggling, citing instances of official complicity and collusion. Zimbabwe's airport has been implicated in several high-profile cases, including the arrest of the president of the Zimbabwe Miners' Federation for allegedly attempting to carry six kilograms of gold bars to Dubai.

The report maps organised criminal economies across East and Southern Africa (ESA), noting that gold deposits are widespread throughout the region, while coloured gemstones and critical minerals are found in more limited pockets. South Africa remains a leading platinum producer, and Zimbabwe is among the few countries in the region with significant lithium deposits.

According to GI-TOC, gold export hubs include Harare, Johannesburg, Nairobi, Entebbe, and Juba, with most gold smuggled to Dubai. Other destinations for African gold include India, China, and Switzerland. The report also highlights strong illicit gold links between Kenya and India and notes that Dubai handled US$129 billion worth of gold in 2024, a 36% increase from the previous year, making it the world's second-largest gold market.

The report further points to the smuggling of coloured gemstones and critical minerals. Gemstones from Madagascar, Kenya, Mozambique, and Malawi are often exported illicitly to Thailand, Sri Lanka, and India. Malawi temporarily banned all mineral exports in February 2025 to audit contracts and improve regulatory oversight. Critical minerals such as tin, tungsten, and lithium are also smuggled, with lithium leaving Zimbabwe through the Forbes Border Post to Mozambique and onward through the port of Beira.

Northern Mozambique, particularly Pemba, Nampula, and Nacala, is highlighted as a key transit hub for minerals, with ports and airports offering opportunities for smuggling. Graphite mining in Cabo Delgado also faces threats from illicit actors. In Uganda, Kampala, Entebbe, and Arua serve as secondary hubs for gold sourced from the DRC, South Sudan, and Kenya.

The GI-TOC report emphasizes that weak law enforcement, corruption, and high levels of collusion enable the illicit trade, which in turn funds armed groups and fuels regional conflicts. The study underscores the need for stronger regulatory frameworks and cross-border cooperation to address the growing challenge of mineral smuggling in ESA.