This archive report was first published on 20 December 2021.
On December 20, 2021, the UK Supreme Court made a ruling that has sparked uncertainty over the control of 31 tonnes of Venezuelan gold held in reserve at the Bank of England in London.
The gold, valued at around $1 billion, is at the centre of a long-running dispute between Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and opposition leader Juan Guaido.
Guaido, who claims to be the legitimate leader of Venezuela, has been recognised by the UK government as the interim president of the country. However, Maduro's lawyers argue that this recognition is not sufficient to grant Guaido control of the gold.
The Supreme Court judges unanimously allowed Guaido's appeal
