A report by Swissaid reveals a significant increase in gold smuggling from Africa to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) over the past decade, with hundreds of tonnes worth tens of billions of dollars leaving the continent annually. In 2022 alone, 435 tonnes of gold, valued at over $30 billion, were smuggled, primarily to the UAE. Over the previous decade, more than 2,500 tonnes worth $115 billion were illicitly sent to the UAE. The surge highlights the expansion of artisanal mining, involving millions of people, producing volumes comparable to industrial mining.