Milling machines grind gold ore in the al-Ibaidiya milling plant.
Milling machines grind gold ore in the al-Ibaidiya milling plant.
Alex Platt, CNN
The machine pulverizes the gold ore with water in order to filter out waste stone.
The machine pulverizes the gold ore with water in order to filter out waste stone.
Alex Platt, CNN
Flakes of gold ready to undergo certification testing.
Flakes of gold ready to undergo certification testing.
Alex Platt, CNN
Gold flakes being weighed at a gold lab.
Gold flakes being weighed at a gold lab.
Alex Platt, CNN
The gold lab at al-Ibaidiya.
The gold lab at al-Ibaidiya.
Alex Platt, CNN
Al-Ibaidiya is known as 'gold town' and sources say it lies at the center of Russia's gold smuggling operation.
Al-Ibaidiya is known as 'gold town' and sources say it lies at the center of Russia's gold smuggling operation.
Alex Platt, CNN