Mastermind of gold smuggling ring faces serious penalties after investigators track down mining operation: 'We have to step up the fight'

Mastermind of gold smuggling ring faces serious penalties after investigators track down mining operation: 'We have to step up the fight'

A sprawling criminal operation smuggling illegal gold from the Brazilian Amazon into Venezuela is making headlines and drawing renewed calls for action.  As reported by Mongabay, Brazilian authorities recently uncovered an elaborate gold trafficking network that bypassed increased domestic enforcement by laundering gold abroad. The organization, known as Flygold, allegedly trafficked at least 1 ton of gold in just over a year — hidden in thermos…