Treasury Sanctions Global Gold Smuggling Network

On International Anti-Corruption Day, OFAC takes action in coordination with domestic and foreign partnersWASHINGTON — Today, on International Anti-Corruption Day, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is sanctioning 28 individuals and businesses involved in a global gold smuggling and money laundering network based in Zimbabwe, pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13818, which targets perpetrators of serious human rights abuse and corruption around the world.The global network led by Kamlesh Pattni (Pattni) has facilitated illicit activities by bribing officials, deploying trusted supporters to mask ownership, and weaving a global web of businesses to hide the illicit activities. This fraudulent scheme has robbed Zimbabwe’s citizens of the benefit of those natural resources while enriching corrupt government officials and criminal actors.