Cameroon’s deadly gold rush: suspicious deaths and illicit billions

Cameroon’s vanishing gold wealth

A perilous gold fever has gripped Cameroon’s East and Adamaoua regions, giving rise to an alarming number of suspicious deaths. Illegal mining operations have proliferated unchecked, with the Cameroonian state struggling to enforce its laws and regulate the burgeoning industry. This uncontrolled expansion facilitates a massive illicit trade, seeing billions in gold bypass official channels and flow directly to Dubai. These powerful criminal networks, bolstered by extensive local complicity, are prepared to go to extreme lengths to safeguard their lucrative positions, leaving a trail of human tragedy in their wake.