Burkina Faso’s customs authorities announced the seizure of 28.6 kilograms (63 pounds) of gold, worth an estimated $2.3 million, in a major smuggling operation on Tuesday. Three individuals were arrested as they attempted to transport the illicit cargo across the border into neighboring Togo.
The suspects, who were traveling by bus to Lomé, the capital of Togo, had concealed the gold within their clothing. Acting on an anonymous intelligence tip-off, Burkinabe customs officers followed the bus to the southeastern border town of Cinkansé, where the individuals were apprehended. The operation, which involved officers from the Bittou customs office and local police, resulted in one of the largest seizures of smuggled gold in the country’s history.
The suspects were unable to provide any legal documentation for their possession or transport of the gold, according to customs officials. A senior Burkinabe police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the suspects had admitted to smuggling the gold for a third party.
Gold is Burkina Faso’s largest export, accounting for around 14% of the country’s national revenue. Despite its significance to the economy, Burkina Faso has struggled to control illegal gold trade, particularly in the artisanal mining sector, which produces an estimated 10 tonnes of gold annually. In February 2024, the government suspended exports from artisanal mines in a bid to regulate the sector and curb illegal activities, such as smuggling.
The seizure comes amid ongoing challenges in Burkina Faso’s mining sector, exacerbated by insurgency in the region. Five of the country’s 17 industrial gold mines have been forced to close due to violence linked to the conflict in neighboring Mali. Over 17,000 people have died as a result of the insurgency, and more than two million have been displaced.
In response to these challenges, the government has begun constructing its first-ever gold refinery, which is expected to produce up to 150 tonnes of pure gold annually. The refinery will play a key role in bolstering the country’s gold industry by increasing domestic processing capacity and reducing reliance on foreign smelting operations.
The incident also highlights the growing tensions between the Burkinabe government and foreign mining interests. Earlier this year, military authorities seized 200 kilograms of gold from a subsidiary of Canadian company Endeavour Mining, citing “public necessity.” This move reflected the government’s increasing efforts to tighten control over the country’s vast natural resources.
As the government intensifies its efforts to regulate the gold sector, it remains to be seen whether such seizures will help combat the rising tide of illegal mining and smuggling activities that continue to plague Burkina Faso’s gold trade.