Sudanese authorities said on Sunday that they had seized 21 kilograms of smuggled gold in River Nile State, in a major blow to illicit networks that drain the country’s mineral wealth.
State anti-smuggling forces intercepted 20 gold ingots, carefully hidden inside a double-cabin pickup truck, as part of ongoing operations targeting illegal mineral trade. One suspect has been detained, and a Thuraya satellite communication device was confiscated during the arrest, officials said.
Brigadier General Adam Omer Sabeel, Director of Anti-Smuggling in River Nile State, told reporters the operation was the culmination of “intensive fieldwork and monitoring of suspicious movements.” He added that the seizure underscores the vigilance of his forces in protecting Sudan’s national resources.
Lieutenant General Salah Ahmed Ibrahim, Director-General of Customs, praised the seizure as “a testament to the pivotal role anti-smuggling units play in safeguarding the nation’s assets.” Major General Amir Zein al-Abidin Omer, Assistant Director-General for Anti-Smuggling, said field campaigns would continue relentlessly to ensure economic stability and national security.
Sudan has long struggled with systematic gold smuggling, which deprives the state of billions of dollars in potential annual revenue. Finance Minister Gibril Ibrahim highlighted the scale of the problem in January, telling AFP that only 20 tonnes of gold were exported through official channels in 2025, out of an estimated total production of 70 tonnes.
Technical assessments suggest that between 48 and 60 percent of Sudan’s produced gold is smuggled across land borders or through unmonitored airports. Analysts say this illicit trade is often coordinated by regional and international networks, further eroding the country’s fiscal base.
A 2025 report by Swiss NGO Swissaid documented a sharp rise in informal gold flows from Sudan to the United Arab Emirates, noting a 70 percent increase in 2024 alone. The report also identified neighbouring countries such as South Sudan, Chad, and Ethiopia as transit hubs where Sudanese gold is laundered and rebranded before entering global markets.
The River Nile State operation is one of several recent high-profile seizures aimed at curbing illegal trade. Authorities said the measure is part of a broader strategy to tighten oversight of mining regions and improve transparency in gold exports, a critical component of Sudan’s economy.
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“The seizure demonstrates our continued commitment to preventing illegal activities that threaten the national economy,” Brig. Gen. Sabeel said. Officials stressed that these measures also aim to strengthen Sudan’s compliance with international standards and reduce the vulnerability of its mineral sector to organized crime.
Despite these efforts, experts warn that smuggling remains a persistent challenge, with complex cross-border networks and informal trading channels difficult to monitor. Sudanese authorities say they are intensifying cooperation with regional partners to dismantle smuggling routes and ensure that gold production contributes fully to the national treasury.
The River Nile State seizure highlights the ongoing struggle to balance Sudan’s rich mineral resources with the need for fiscal accountability and law enforcement. Authorities say more operations are planned to target smuggling networks and protect the country’s economic and security interests.
