Christy Gold, also known as Christiana Jacob Uadiale, has been arrested at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on New Year’s Eve. She had been on the run after being convicted in absentia by a Nigerian federal court on March 21 for six counts of trafficking in persons.
Gold became a key figure in a 2023 ICIJ and Reuters investigation, which highlighted the UAE as a major destination for sex trafficking. The investigation revealed how African women were coerced into sexual slavery, often under the guise of legitimate job opportunities, and exploited with massive debts. As part of ICIJ’s Trafficking Inc. project, the investigation exposed the vast networks profiting from such abuse, with Christy Gold deeply involved in one of these trafficking rings.
According to Nigeria’s National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Gold was a prominent member of a human trafficking syndicate. Her arrest was the result of coordinated efforts between Nigerian agencies and the UAE police, though several of her associates remain at large. Binta Adamu Bello, Director General of NAPTIP, issued a warning to other members of the syndicate, stating, “They can hide for a while, but not forever.”
Gold had continued to flaunt her lavish lifestyle on social media, posting videos from the UAE. On TikTok, she shared clips of herself in high-end settings, even appearing with representatives of a Dubai real estate company. Her social media presence suggested she was living a life of luxury, despite her criminal activities.
Gold’s trafficking operations targeted vulnerable Nigerian women, promising them employment in Dubai. Once there, the women found themselves trapped in sex work, often coerced into paying off debts to Gold that could reach as high as $12,000. Some women recounted horrific abuse, with Gold and her brother threatening violence, including torture and starvation, to maintain control.
Despite the charges, Gold initially denied being involved in sex trafficking. She claimed that she simply helped people move to the UAE, unaware of the nature of their work. However, authorities disagreed, charging her with six counts of trafficking, which led to her absence during a 2021 court hearing, after which she fled.
Following her conviction, Nigerian authorities vowed to continue their crackdown on human trafficking and other forms of exploitation. Binta Adamu Bello emphasized the agency’s commitment to protecting Nigerians from trafficking and violence, signaling an even stronger approach in 2025.
