This is a legal and criminological analysis examining the link between illicit gold extrac-tion in the Brazilian Amazon and its integration into the formal economy as a financial asset. The study highlights environmental degradation and widespread criminal activities, including the convergence of gold smuggling and drug trafficking, exacerbated by gold's high market value. It underscores the severe harm inflicted upon indigenous communities and emphasizes the principles of southern green criminology, which call for ethical and equitable approaches to addressing global resource exploitation. The analysis evaluates Brazil's legal framework, noting robust measures for tracing gold production, curbing speculative trading, and enforcing supply chain compliance. The study further delineates pathways for asset recovery and equitable compensation for indigenous communities severely harmed by these activities. Finally, it concludes by postulating en-hanced international cooperation to address the environmental and social costs of illegal gold extraction while promoting sustainable development and equitable resource governance.