A New York Times probe found that gold from a Colombian mine run by the Clan del Golfo cartel entered the Royal Canadian Mint’s supply chain. The Mint, which touts blockchain‑style tracking called Bullion Genesis, insists its product is “North American” and free of illicit links. Yet the investigation shows a Texas intermediary blended Colombian ore with U.S. metal before it reached Canadian refiners.

Mint officials said they rely on the Texas supplier’s audit, which flags Colombia—specifically Antioquia—as a source but stops short of “enhanced due diligence.” General counsel Andrea Kniewasser argued that the audit satisfied legal requirements, noting the supplier provided roughly 5 percent of the raw gold the Mint refined last year. The Mint now says it has halted Colombian inputs while it reviews the findings.

Industry watchdogs argue the Mint’s lax approach erodes confidence in a market where gold trades near $5,000 an ounce, incentivizing illegal mining and financing of armed groups. OECD guidelines urge refiners to verify origins, a point senior adviser Louis Marechal says the Mint is ignoring. In response, the Mint plans to publish country‑origin lists and revise its disclosure policy.