Sudan authorities seize 21kg of smuggled gold in River Nile State
February 22, 2026 (AD-DAMIR) – Anti-smuggling authorities in River Nile State announced on Sunday the seizure of 21 kilograms of gold, marking a significant blow to illicit networks that drain the country’s mineral wealth.
Sudan has long struggled with the systematic smuggling of gold through various channels, a practice that deprives the national treasury of billions of dollars in potential annual revenue.
State anti-smuggling forces reported intercepting 20 gold ingots weighing approximately 21 kilograms, which had been meticulously concealed within a double-cabin pickup truck.
Brigadier General Adam Omer Sabeel, Director of Anti-Smuggling in River Nile State, told reporters that the seizure was the culmination of intensive field operations and the monitoring of suspicious movements.
He confirmed that one suspect has been detained in connection with the case and that a Thuraya satellite communication device was confiscated during the arrest.
Sabeel emphasized that the operation demonstrates the continued vigilance of his forces in protecting national resources and vowed to maintain strict oversight to curb illegal activities threatening the national economy.
The Director-General of Customs, Lieutenant General Salah Ahmed Ibrahim, lauded the achievement, describing it 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, added that field campaigns would continue relentlessly to ensure economic stability and national security.
The scale of the crisis was highlighted in January by Finance Minister Gibril Ibrahim, who told Agence France-Presse that only 20 tonnes of gold were exported through official channels in 2025, out of an estimated total production of 70 tonnes.
Technical reports suggest that between 48% and 60% of produced gold is smuggled across land borders and through unmonitored airports.
The illicit trade has drawn international scrutiny. A 2025 report by the Swiss NGO Swissaid documented the involvement of international and regional networks in draining Sudan’s gold reserves. The report noted a 70% increase in informal gold flows from Sudan to the United Arab Emirates in 2024 alone.
Furthermore, the findings indicated that neighbouring countries, including South Sudan, Chad, and Ethiopia, have become “transit hubs” where Sudanese gold is laundered and rebranded before entering global markets.