The Ethiopian Government Communication Service announced that 183 individuals—including government officials, senior security personnel, gold producers, and foreign nationals—have been held legally accountable for their involvement in illicit gold smuggling operations.
In a press briefing today, minister Enatalem Melese said the government had uncovered organized networks involving domestic and foreign actors operating across business, public institutions, and service sectors.
She outlined a series of enforcement actions across multiple sectors. According to the minister, authorities brought 169 Ethiopian and foreign nationals to justice over illegal financial transactions, including money transfers and black-market foreign exchange trading. Additionally, 36 suspects accused of fraudulently withdrawing funds from customers’ bank accounts were arrested and their accounts were frozen, while legal action was taken against 29 exporters and trading companies that failed to repatriate export earning.
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Criminal proceedings included the one against Ministry of Agriculture officials over the procurement of substandard fertilizer, legal action against four senior Ethiopian Electric Power officials over unauthorized electricity supply agreements with data mining companies, and prosecutions for electricity theft.
In addition, eight Ministry of Labour and Skills officials and employees were detained over alleged bribery and manipulation of overseas employment services, while 44 suspected human traffickers were arrested and unlicensed recruitment agencies were shut down. In the revenue sector, 91 of 109 identified suspects accused of tax fraud and illicit financial networks have been placed in legal custody.
It was also announced that actions have been taken against more than 7,000 warehouses and 13 supplier companies accused of stockpiling essential commodities in an attempt to undermine the country’s ongoing macroeconomic reform program.
