A complex network of certifiers and regulatory bodies exists to guarantee that gold entering the global market is completely free from human rights abuses, child exploitation, and criminal activity. Despite these stringent paper trails, the oversight system suffers from a critical flaw: the professionals responsible for vetting the supply chain almost never leave their offices to conduct physical inspections. Consequently, illicit practices within gold mines often go completely unnoticed behind layers of rubber-stamped paperwork and remote approvals.