Switzerland’s gold | Documentary

Four of the seven largest gold refineries in the world are located in Switzerland. However, the legal regulations are weak. What is the industry doing to ensure that no "dirty gold” ends up in Switzerland?

Switzerland is the international hub for gold. Between 50 and 70 percent of the gold mined globally is melted down and processed in these refineries. Once it has been melted down, no one can trace where the gold originally came from.

In 2023, the United Nations sent a letter to the Swiss government. The accusation: Their laws were too lax. As a result, Switzerland was becoming a gateway for gold sullied by human rights violations, child labor, mercury poisoning, environmental destruction or involved in the financing of illegal groups. Industry representatives and the Swiss government claim that great efforts are being made to make supply chains transparent.

The film examines how successful these efforts are. Can supply chains be fully traced and monitored? A trip to the largest gold producers in Africa shows the chasm between Switzerland’s claims and the reality on the ground.