Re underground - tbf, I wouldn't automatically assume that these guys are capable of mining underground - if Kouroussa wasn't open I wouldn't be here ...
The traders that manipulate the price of metals are claiming that they can't produce their usual CoT (Commitment of Traders) data since a "cyber attack" some weeks ago and now the CFTC who rely on that self-submitted data to regulate the market (yeah, I know, try and keep a straight face ...) are saying they don't expect to have that data for another month.
In other words, just a month after the LBMA's original Basel III/NSFR free pass expired on Jan 1st 2023 there's some shady **** going down on COMEX - even shadier than normal.