Kamlesh Pattni Sanctioned by U.S. for Gold Smuggling Network Exposed in Gold Mafia
Gold trader Kamlesh Pattni has been placed under U.S. sanctions for his role in a global gold smuggling and money laundering network, with his most recent activities in Zimbabwe exposed in the Gold Mafia documentary, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
On Monday, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Pattni and 27 other individuals for their roles in illicit activities, as part of ongoing efforts to combat corruption and money laundering.
Pattni, notorious for his involvement in Kenya’s Goldenberg scandal in the 1990s which cost that country an estimated Sh27 billion three decades ago, is accused of exploiting Zimbabwe’s natural resources for personal gain, enriching corrupt officials while depriving the nation’s citizens of their rightful benefits. His operations allegedly involved bribing government officials and establishing a network of companies and trusted associates to obscure asset ownership.
Key Individuals and Companies
Others sanctioned alongside Pattni include his brother-in-law, Mukesh Manushklal Vaya, who oversees several companies within Pattni’s network, and Rahul Sood, a director linked to businesses controlled by Pattni. The sanctions were part of a coordinated effort by the U.S. and the UK, with the UK also imposing restrictions on Pattni and his associates.
Links to the Gold Mafia
The move follows Pattni’s appearance in the Gold Mafia documentary earlier this year, which exposed his illegal gold trading activities across Southern Africa. The documentary highlighted the extent of his operations and connections within the region.
The sanctions aim to dismantle Pattni’s network and block him and his associates from accessing their illicit wealth, striking a significant blow to one of the most prominent gold smuggling and money laundering syndicates in Southern Africa.