Attached is the press release. It relates to sanctioning Alain Goetz, the African Gold Refinery in Uganda, and a network of companies involved in the illicit movement of gold valued at hundreds of millions of dollars per year from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The following entities were also designated pursuant to E.O. 13413 for being owned or controlled by, or for having acted or purported to have acted for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Alain Goetz:
- Agor DMCC is a UAE-based gold refinery that imports gold from AGR and is owned or controlled by Goetz.
- AGR International Ltd. is a Seychelles-based holding company owned or controlled by Goetz.
- Alaxy is a Belgium-based management company that is owned or controlled by Goetz.
- CG – Vastgoed Invest is a Belgium-based holding company owned or controlled by Goetz.
- Goetz Gold LLC is a UAE-based gold trading company that is owned or controlled by Goetz. In 2020, Goetz rebranded Goetz Gold LLC to PGR Gold Trading LLC.
- Premier Gold Refinery LLC is a UAE-based gold refinery that imports gold from AGR and is owned or controlled by Goetz.
- Orofino is a Belgium-based holding company that is owned or controlled by Goetz.
- WWG Diamonds is a Belgium-based holding company that is involved in mining activities and is owned or controlled by Goetz.