Massive International Gold Fraud Scandal in Mali: Société Zadak SARL, Mohamed Diallo, Elhadj Amadou Toure / Jama Omaar Mohamed, and Associates Exposed in Multi-Million-Dollar Scheme

150 Kilograms of Gold, Hundreds of Thousands Lost: International Scam Exposed in Mali

London, 10th October 2025

– A cross-border investigation has exposed a sophisticated gold-export fraud operating out of Bamako, Mali, that has left investors out of pocket for more than USD 700 000 and caused widespread embarrassment to Mali’s legitimate gold sector.

The network, which investigators link to a company trading under the name Société Zadak SARL, directed by Mohamed Diallo (Dalio) Elhadj Amadou Toure, and a supplier identified as Jama Omaar Mohamed, head of the Groupement des Coopératifs Miniers de Kekoro au Mali (GCMKM), persuaded buyers to finance the export of 150 kilograms of gold doré to Dubai. Victims transferred USD 736 000 for export and logistics fees after being shown documents stamped with official DNCC/Douanes Mali seals and signatures—now under forensic verification for authenticity.

When pressed for standard export paperwork—Air Waybill, Commercial Invoice, and Packing List—Zadak SARL failed to provide any. A “government tax payslip” produced later was confirmed fraudulent by forensic examiners. Evidence also shows that individuals linked to the operation impersonated Turkish Airlines Cargo and a fictitious logistics company, attempting to extort an additional USD 500 000 for “release fees” on a shipment that never existed.

Audio recordings obtained by investigators capture Mohamed Diallo claiming to hold a diplomatic passport and to have travelled on a Presidential aircraft to Istanbul to resolve issues with Turkish Cargo—claims dismissed by Malian officials, who confirm the aircraft has been grounded for over a year. Other messages include violent threats and references to the use of “spirits” and “elders” to harm victims—language that has shocked Malian community leaders and drawn condemnation from religious authorities.

Diplomatic sources say the scammers invoked the names of respected Malian elders and community figures to lend their operation false legitimacy, thereby tarnishing the honour of Mali’s traditional leaders and casting an unjust shadow over the country’s gold trade. The affair has damaged international confidence in Malian exports and prompted calls for tighter verification and oversight.

The complete case dossier has been delivered to Dubai Police, the Malian Embassy in South Africa, and the relevant ministries in Bamako, including the Ministry of Mines, DNCC/Douanes, and the Office of the President. Authorities in both countries are now coordinating to trace the funds, authenticate the forged paperwork, and dismantle what appears to be a transnational network exploiting Mali’s gold-export system.

“This operation demonstrates how forged paperwork and cultural manipulation can erode trust in legitimate trade,” said a compliance specialist familiar with the case. “The misuse of respected elders’ names to mask a criminal enterprise has caused serious reputational harm to Mali and to honest miners who depend on fair commerce.”

Law-enforcement agencies urge refineries, traders and financiers worldwide to verify every Malian export directly with official government offices and to treat unsolicited intermediaries with extreme caution.