MALI’S government has started seizing gold stocks of the Canadian mining company Barrick as part of a legal battle over the share of revenue owed to the west African state, according to a leaked letter, it was reported today.

The letter from chief executive officer Mark Bristow to the Malian mining minister says that Barrick is “awaiting official confirmation of the proper receipt by the Malian Solidarity Bank,” a government entity.

The seizure, valued at about $180 million (£144m), follows a warning letter to Barrick earlier this month from Mali’s senior investigating judge, Boubacar Moussa Diarra, saying three tons of gold would be seized.

On Monday, a senior Barrick manager, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that three tons had been seized by the military government and placed in the capital, Bamako. 

According to the senior manager, the gold was taken from a mine near Kayes in the west and transported by plane and truck to the capital late on Saturday.

The Malian authorities did not immediately respond for comment.

In December, Mali issued an arrest warrant for Mr Bristow for charges of money laundering and ordered the seizure of Barrick’s gold reserves. 

Malian authorities previously arrested four senior executives of the Canadian mining company as part of the dispute. They are still being held.