This archive report was first published on 24 July 2019.
On July 24, 2019, Kenya returned 35kg of gold seized by police to Tanzania, marking a significant step in the fight against cross-border illicit trade.
The gold, valued at approximately Sh100 million, was received by Tanzanian President John Magufuli in State House Dar es Salaam.
Kenyan Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Monica Juma and Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji led a delegation to Tanzania to return the gold, which was seized by Kenyan police in Nairobi.
President Uhuru Kenyatta called President Magufuli on phone during the handover, sending his regards and emphasizing the importance of cooperation between the two countries in fighting corruption and returning stolen funds.
Kenya has been cracking down on illegal gold trading in recent years, with the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) being a major transit point for smugglers.
Previous cases of gold smuggling have involved significant amounts of gold, including a 2011 incident in which gold estimated to be worth Sh8 billion was caught at the JKIA.
