Ghana Arrests Three Indian Nationals Over Alleged Gold Smuggling Ring
Ghanaian authorities have arrested three Indian nationals accused of smuggling gold out of the country for the past ten years, according to a statement from the Ghana Gold Board.
The suspects, aged 42, 35, and 22, were apprehended at their private residence in Kumasi, the country’s second-largest city, following a tip-off.
During the raid, officials seized 4.36 kilograms of gold, 1.9 million Ghanaian cedis (approximately $133,333), 4,500 Indian rupees, two currency counting machines, a CCTV recorder, and an Indian passport.
Ghana, Africa’s leading gold producer, saw its gold exports surge by more than 50% to $11.6 billion in 2024. However, the country continues to grapple with black-market trading, largely fueled by the unregulated small-scale mining sector, which accounts for roughly one-third of total gold output.
The Ghana Gold Board has pledged to intensify efforts to curb illegal gold trading and reinforce transparency in the sector.
