The UK government has announced additional sanctions targeting individuals involved in illicit gold operations, including controversial British-Kenyan millionaire and pastor Kamlesh Pattni, a figure previously entangled in the infamous Goldenberg scandal of the 1990s.
This new wave of sanctions focuses on high-ranking officials involved in corruption overseas, bribery linked to UK-based interests, and cross-border bribery with connections to the UK.
The International Corruption Unit (ICU) has spearheaded these investigations, uncovering a network of individuals accused of facilitating illicit financial flows and money laundering activities.
Among those sanctioned is Kamlesh Pattni, who rose to notoriety for his central role in the Goldenberg scandal—a massive scheme that siphoned off $600 million from the Kenyan economy in the 1990s.
Despite evading conviction in numerous legal battles, Pattni has resurfaced as a key player in global gold smuggling operations.
Operating from Dubai, he is now allegedly running similar illicit activities, including smuggling gold from Zimbabwe and other countries.
According to investigative reports, Pattni and his associates have facilitated the laundering of over $100 million by transforming illicit funds into gold exports.
As part of the new sanctions, the UK government has frozen the assets of Pattni and two of his close associates: his wife and brother-in-law, both of whom have longstanding connections to his business dealings.
These measures are expected to disrupt Pattni’s operations, which continue to exploit global financial systems for personal gain.
The UK sanctions follow revelations from Al Jazeera’s “Gold Mafia” series, which exposed Pattni’s ongoing involvement in criminal gold trading operations.
Undercover reporters infiltrated his network, revealing various methods used to launder illicit funds through gold trading.
The findings have raised alarms about the role of gold in enabling money laundering and corruption on a global scale.
In addition to Pattni, the UK sanctions also target Alain Goetz, a Belgian gold trader who has been accused of extracting illicit gold from conflict-ridden areas in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Goetz’s operations are linked to armed groups known for committing egregious human rights abuses, further highlighting the ties between illegal mining and global corruption.
Another individual affected by the sanctions is Anto Joseph, the CEO of multiple gold trading companies, including Paloma Precious.
Joseph’s companies have reportedly spent over $300 million on gold sourced from Russia, raising concerns about the indirect support of the Russian government amid its ongoing military actions in Ukraine.
These sanctions are part of the UK’s broader efforts to combat corruption and illicit financial activities that have far-reaching consequences.
By targeting individuals involved in smuggling, money laundering, and other forms of financial crime, the UK government aims to curb the exploitation of legal and financial systems and reduce the negative impact on global security and human rights.
The latest measures, which include asset freezes and travel bans, send a clear message that the UK is committed to holding those responsible for perpetuating corruption accountable.
As investigations into illicit gold trade operations continue, authorities are expected to intensify their scrutiny of global financial networks and work closely with international partners to disrupt such criminal activities.
