Hong Kong customs seized $10 million worth of gold disguised as machine parts on a cargo plane bound for Japan, marking the largest gold smuggling case in the city's history. The gold, concealed in air compressors and painted silver to evade detection, was intended to avoid Japan's 10-percent import tariff. A 31-year-old man, believed to be the mastermind behind the smuggling attempt, has been arrested and faces a potential seven-year prison sentence and a hefty fine if convicted.
Hong Kong customs officials seized over $10 million worth of suspected gold hidden in air compressors on a freight plane bound for Japan, marking the largest gold-smuggling case in Hong Kong in terms of seizure value. The gold had been carefully molded and concealed within the machinery, likely to evade Japan's import tariffs. A 31-year-old man was arrested in connection with the case, and gold is considered a valuable commodity by investors and criminal networks due to its stable value and ease of transformation for money laundering purposes.
Hong Kong authorities seized over $10 million worth of gold, disguised as machine parts, in the city's largest gold smuggling bust. The gold, molded and camouflaged as part of two air compressors, was intended to be shipped to Japan to evade import tariffs. A 31-year-old has been arrested in connection with the case, and investigations are ongoing. This comes amid a surge in gold prices, with the commodity hitting successive record highs in 2024.
Jordanian MP Imad al-Adwan has been detained and interrogated by Israeli authorities over alleged smuggling of arms and gold into the occupied West Bank. Al-Adwan, a member of Jordan’s parliament, was arrested at the King Hussein Bridge border crossing. Jordan's foreign ministry is working to address the issue, while a spokesperson for Israel’s foreign ministry declined to comment. Political relations between the two countries have soured in recent years over Israel’s stance on the right of Palestinians to a state.
Al Jazeera's four-part investigation has uncovered a series of gold smuggling gangs in Southern Africa that help criminals launder hundreds of millions of dollars, getting rich themselves while plundering their nations. The investigation shows how gold smuggled from Zimbabwe makes its way to Dubai and is then exported to other major gold hubs like Switzerland and London. The investigation also exposes the involvement of high-ranking officials from Zimbabwe in smuggling and money laundering, which help the country get around the crippling grip of Western sanctions.
