China labeled as ‘global mining mafia’ in recent report: 15 gold-rich nations report illegality

Illicit mining operations in countries like Indonesia, where oversight is often compromised and enforcement is lacking, are now contributing to meeting the demand for gold. A growing network of Chinese-led syndicates is fueling an increase in illicit gold mining activities, prompting at least 15 gold-rich nations to complain about the illegality. According to a recent report, China has been labeled as a ‘global mining mafia’ due to its involvement in illicit mining operations worldwide. The report highlights how these Chinese-led syndicates are exploiting weak governance structures and environmental regulations in various countries to carry out illegal mining activities.