In a daring heist that has rocked Chad’s gold trade, four armed robbers intercepted a transporter carrying over 25 kilograms of unprocessed gold from Abéché to N’Djamena, where the gold is typically sold or sent to the Middle East.
According to a gold trader in Abéché, at least 20 traders had entrusted the gold to the transporter for delivery. But as the vehicle left the city, it was ambushed by the robbers, who took both the driver and the cargo to Tiné, a town in the Ouadi Fira province near the Sudanese border.
Days later, three of the robbers were captured along with an accomplice. Authorities also seized weapons used in the attack, foreign currency, and a small portion of the stolen gold. However, only 1.6 kg of gold was recovered, with the remaining 24 kg still unaccounted for.
The total value of the stolen gold is estimated at 1.2 billion CFA francs (approximately 1.8 million euros). The gold, extracted from the mining sites of Kouri Bougoudi and Kouri 35 in the Faya-Largeau region, is a vital commodity for local traders and the economy.
Due to the high-profile nature of the case, the trial has been transferred from Abéché to N’Djamena’s court. The three suspects and their accomplice are now in the capital, while the fourth robber remains on the run. Authorities are continuing their search in collaboration with the governor of Ouadi Fira.