UK Targets Kenyan Businessman Kamlesh Pattni in Battle Against Illicit Gold Trade

In a significant move to combat the illicit gold trade, the UK and US governments have announced sanctions against British-Kenyan businessman Kamlesh Pattni and four associates, including family members. This action freezes their assets in a bid to address Pattni's alleged involvement in decades of gold smuggling operations that have fueled corruption and undermined human rights.

Pattni has a controversial history tied to one of Kenya's largest corruption scandals, the Goldenberg affair, which reportedly cost the nation upwards of $600 million. Despite facing allegations regarding his role in the gold trade in Zimbabwe, he has consistently denied these claims. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office emphasized that illicit gold trafficking not only disrupts legitimate trade but also provides financial support for authoritarian regimes, such as Russia, which utilizes illegal gold to fund its conflict in Ukraine.

Pattni has previously been associated with former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, leveraging this connection to exploit the country's resources. His alleged involvement in a recent Al-Jazeera investigation into Zimbabwe's gold mafia highlighted the extent of his operations, which the US Treasury condemned as a theft from the nation's citizens—benefiting only corrupt officials.

The sanctions against Pattni are part of a broader initiative by the UK government to combat global corruption and promote transparency in financial dealings.