Sudan moves to criminalize undocumented gold possession to curb smuggling
September 28, 2026 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s Minister of Minerals Nour al-Daim Taha announced on Monday plans to introduce legislation criminalizing the possession of gold without official documentation, as authorities seek to halt widespread smuggling that deprives the state of critical revenue.
Under the proposed legal framework, individuals holding gold with expired permits or lacking certified transit paperwork will face criminal prosecution. Officials described the draft laws as part of a broader regulatory overhaul to tighten control over the precious metal’s circulation and shutter illicit trading hubs.
The move follows a decision last month by Sudan’s Security and Defence Council to establish specialized courts to prosecute gold and weapons smuggling, human trafficking, and narcotics offences. The council also prohibited regular armed forces and allied paramilitary groups from being present within mining concession zones.
Speaking after a ministerial meeting in Khartoum, Taha said the ministry is executing cabinet directives to account for all mined gold, regulate export purchases, and deploy electronic surveillance across traditional and artisanal mining areas.
The meeting, attended by Undersecretary Hind Siddiq, heads of state mining corporations, and mining security police, also evaluated administrative restructuring plans to build a workforce registry and enhance institutional performance.
Taha reviewed progress on a digital transformation initiative intended to electronically connect the ministry with its operating arms, state mining companies, and relevant government agencies.
Officials also evaluated steps toward completing a comprehensive geological survey to map national mineral deposits and attract international investment.
Taha emphasized that expanding output and export volumes must occur alongside rigorous anti-smuggling safeguards that protect state resources and local producing communities.
Government figures highlight the extensive scale of cross-border smuggling. The Sudanese Mineral Resources Company reported national gold production of about 70 tonnes last year, yet the Central Bank of Sudan recorded official exports of just 14 tonnes, leaving a 56-tonne discrepancy traded outside official banking channels.