After the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime in 2003, numerous reports emerged regarding the whereabouts of vast amounts of gold that were believed to be hoarded by the former president and his inner circle. Initially, it was suggested that a significant amount of gold was hidden in various locations throughout Iraq, including palaces and secret bunkers. Some estimates suggested that Saddam owned around 143 tons of gold.
In the chaos that followed the invasion, looting of government buildings and wealth was rampant. Some of Saddam’s gold may have been taken during this period, though it is difficult to ascertain the exact amounts. There were also claims that some of the gold was moved out of Iraq before the invasion, potentially to avoid confiscation.
In subsequent years, there have been various international efforts to trace Saddam’s wealth, including his gold reserves. Reports surfaced indicating that some gold bars had been recovered by U.S. forces and were being stored by the government. In 2004, around $700 million in gold was alleged to have been seized from a site in Iraq previously controlled by Saddam’s forces.
Ultimately, the fate of Saddam Hussein’s gold remains somewhat of a mystery. While some of it has been recovered, much is still unaccounted for, and the rest is believed to be scattered among various individuals, smuggled out of Iraq, or lost in the tumultuous aftermath of the war.