The Ghana GoldBod has intensified its crackdown on illegal gold trading and smuggling, with its Legal Directorate pursuing 20 active cases during the third quarter of 2025.

The cases primarily involve individuals and entities operating without valid GoldBod licences, reflecting the institution’s heightened enforcement efforts.

Providing a breakdown of the case status, the GoldBod reported:

• 10 cases under investigation
• 6 suspects granted bail
• 1 suspect granted court bail
• 1 case pending trial
• 1 case under police enquiry
• 1 suspect deported

This was captured in the Board's 2025 third-quarter report. According to the Board, the enforcement exercise also resulted in significant recoveries, and a total of GH¢3,036,990.00 in cash was retrieved, alongside various foreign currencies including US dollars, CFA francs, and Moroccan dirhams.

Confiscated items included gold doré, gold dust, mercury, firearms, mobile phones, and forged documents, which officials say are commonly used in unlicensed trading networks.

Investigations further revealed the involvement of foreign nationals from the United States, Morocco, and Burkina Faso in illicit gold activities within the country.

The Board indicated that, it is continuing inquiries to determine whether some Tier 2 licensees may have facilitated or misused their licences in connection with these operations.

The GoldBod says the ongoing enforcement actions form part of a broader strategy to sanitise the gold trading ecosystem, strengthen regulatory compliance, and prevent revenue losses to the state.