Gold & Precious Cargo Logistics
Documented chain of custody. Insured to institutional limits. LBMA-aligned paperwork throughout. Handled with discretion.
Documented custody.
Not just secure transport.
Signed at each point.
Granite Gate's precious cargo service operates a dedicated custody framework, separate from the firm's general freight lines. The same operators do not run both.
The file structure, documentation discipline, insurance tier, and handling protocols are specific to this service. Every handover is documented and countersigned. Every consignment carries a named file owner for its full duration.
Frameworks applied
Not a phrase on a brochure.
A protocol. Applied at every transfer.
A specific service
for specific clients.
Not every cargo qualifies for this service line. The ones that do recognise it without being told.
Licensed Refineries
DGSM-licensed refineries in Uganda exporting refined gold and precious metals to institutional buyers in Dubai, Zurich, and Mumbai.
Mining Groups
Mining operations and mineral export groups moving dore and refined product across the DRC-Uganda-Entebbe corridor.
Trade Finance Institutions
Banks and commodity finance desks releasing cargo against letters of credit where documented custody is a condition of settlement.
Institutional Asset Holders
Private institutions, endowments, and high-net-worth structures requiring documented transport of high-value assets across East African corridors.
Compliance-Led Organisations
Organisations where AML posture, sanctions screening, and audit-ready chain of custody are prerequisites for any logistics counterparty.
What the service covers.
And what it does not.
Granite Gate's precious cargo service operates a dedicated custody framework separate from the firm's general freight lines. The file structure, documentation discipline, insurance tier, and handling protocols are specific to this service.
What this service does not cover
- Gold sourcing, purchasing, or trading
- Assay services
We coordinate transport to an approved assayer but do not assay ourselves.
- DGSM licence application
We support the documentation but cannot apply on the client's behalf.
- Legal structuring of gold export transactions
- Currency exchange or commodity hedging
Enquiries that touch on the above are referred to vetted specialist partners. Ask at the institutional enquiry stage.
What documented custody
means in practice.
Not a phrase on a brochure. A protocol, applied at every transfer, signed by every party, timestamped on every document.
Every custody transfer is documented.
At every physical handover, a custody transfer form is completed in writing by both the releasing party and the receiving party. Weight, form, quantity, condition, and time are recorded. No transfer occurs without the form signed and countersigned.
Insured to institutional limits.
Precious cargo consignments are covered under a dedicated policy with named underwriters and institutional coverage limits. Coverage scope, exclusions, and deductible terms are confirmed in writing at file opening and available to the client's own insurers or compliance team on request.
Counterparty screening before file opening.
Every client, counterparty, and consignment on this service line is subject to KYC verification and sanctions screening before the file opens. Granite Gate does not open a precious cargo file without knowing the source of the asset, the identity of the beneficiary, and the destination jurisdiction. This is not optional.
Paperwork calibrated to the London standard.
Documentation for refined gold and precious metal consignments follows LBMA good delivery guidance. Assay certificates, chain of custody logs, export permits, and airway bills are structured to clear the compliance desks of major bullion buyers without query.
Responsible sourcing, documented.
For mineral consignments from the Great Lakes region, Granite Gate applies the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Mineral Supply Chains as a reference framework. We do not knowingly move conflict minerals. Provenance documentation is required on every file.
When something goes wrong, the response is procedural.
A documented incident response protocol governs any deviation from the custody plan. The client is notified in writing within one hour of any incident. An incident report is filed within 24 hours. Insurance notification follows the policy's claims trigger. Nothing is improvised.
What every consignment
produces.
The file closes when every document is signed, timestamped, and archived. Not before.
Custody & handover
- Custody transfer forms (one per physical handover)
- Chain of custody log (complete, timestamped, origin to delivery)
- Incident-free confirmation (or incident report if applicable)
Regulatory & compliance
- DGSM export permit (where applicable)
- Certificate of origin
- Assay certificate (sourced from assayer, integrated into file)
- AML and KYC documentation record
- Sanctions screening confirmation
Commercial & financial
- Commercial invoice (where applicable)
- Airway bill or bill of lading
- Insurance certificate (with named underwriter details)
- Packing list and weight certificate
Delivery
- Final custody transfer form at destination handover
- Full documentation pack (complete set, within 48 hours)
- Electronic archive (available on request, five years from close)
C-2025-038
Refined gold.
Kampala refinery to Dubai DMCC.
In Q3 2025, Granite Gate managed the air freight export of refined gold from a licensed Kampala refinery to a bullion buyer at the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre. The consignment moved under documented chain of custody from the refinery vault to Entebbe International Airport, under secure escort, insured to institutional limits under a named underwriter.
DGSM export permits filed. Assay certificate integrated. LBMA-aligned chain of custody documentation completed. AML counterparty screening cleared before file opening. Airway bill issued to the buyer's compliance desk. Documentation cleared without query on arrival in Dubai.
See all consignment records
KYC onboarding begins.
The file opens with
an institutional enquiry.
A named relationship lead is assigned on the day the enquiry arrives. The file does not open before you are ready.
Submit the institutional form. The relationship lead responds within one working day, by name, with a direct contact line.
The Due Diligence Pack is shared. KYC onboarding begins. The lead confirms the custody framework, insurance tier, and documentation structure for your cargo type.
Once onboarding is complete, the file opens. Standing arrangements are preferred. Per-consignment arrangements are available.
Services that travel with this one.
Most precious cargo files use two or three service lines. The file handles all of them.
Trade Documentation
AML documentation, OECD provenance records, certificate of origin, export permit filing. Integrated into the custody file.
Learn more
Freight Forwarding & Customs
Cross-border customs handling and corridor freight for consignments entering Uganda from neighbouring countries.
Learn moreBonded Warehousing
Secure bonded storage ahead of export. For consignments that require staging at Kampala before airside movement.
Learn more
What we sign for,
we answer for. In writing.
Every precious cargo file carries a named relationship lead, a documented custody framework, and a standing incident protocol. The client is never without an accountable party on the file.