Story perspectives

U.S. Mint Buys Cartel Gold, Violating 1985 Law

4/26/2026

Summary

Story summary

U.S. Mint buys gold, including a cartel-run Colombian mine, breaching the 1985 law requiring U.S.-mined gold.
Workers at the cartel mine face toxic conditions as mining destroys forest and Indigenous burial sites.
Investigators saw ore extraction on a Colombian military base despite the commander’s denial.
Mint also buys gold from Mexican, Peruvian, Congolese and Honduran sources, with the practice continuing under both parties as gold nears $5,000 per ounce.

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Story summary

U.S. Mint buys gold, including a cartel-run Colombian mine, breaching the 1985 law requiring U.S.-mined gold.
Workers at the cartel mine face toxic conditions as mining destroys forest and Indigenous burial sites.
Investigators saw ore extraction on a Colombian military base despite the commander’s denial.
Mint also buys gold from Mexican, Peruvian, Congolese and Honduran sources, with the practice continuing under both parties as gold nears $5,000 per ounce.