Jakarta, Eyewitness – In less than 24 hours, Soekarno-Hatta Customs, in collaboration with Soekarno-Hatta International Airport’s Aviation Security (Avsec), thwarted two attempts to smuggle gold out of the country via Terminal 3 of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. Across the two enforcement actions carried out on August 10 and 11, 2026, officers seized a total of 23.793 kilograms of gold with an estimated market value of IDR 63 billion.
The two cases involved different *modus operandi*, highlighting the increasingly diverse methods used to evade oversight. In the first incident, the gold was concealed in various ways, including being hidden in the genital and anal areas, tucked into modified clothing, strapped to the body, and carried in hand luggage.
In the second incident, the gold was transported through airport operational channels by utilizing ground handling staff, with the intent of handing it over to a passenger in the international departure area.
Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa emphasized that Customs, acting as Indonesia’s border guardian, continues to enhance its capabilities and adapt to evolving smuggling tactics.
“As Indonesia’s border guardian, Customs continues to improve its capabilities and must always stay one step ahead in anticipating the ever-evolving methods of smuggling. By combining inspection technology, risk analysis, passenger data analysis, field surveillance, and synergy with all airport stakeholders, we must maintain a high level of vigilance,” stated Finance Minister Purbaya in a press release on Thursday (August 13, 2026).
The first enforcement action stemmed from the collaboration between Aviation Security (Avsec) and Customs officers, who detected suspected gold being carried in the hand luggage of a Chinese national at the Terminal 3 departure area. Upon inspection, officers discovered gold shaped like cylinders or eggs inside the carry-on bag.
During the subsequent investigation, Avsec and Customs officers identified another passenger due to an anomaly detected by the body scanner. A search of this passenger revealed cylindrical gold pieces concealed within modified underwear. Customs officers then conducted a passenger data analysis (via the Passenger Analysis Unit/PAU) and uncovered a suspected link between these two individuals and other passengers on two Hong Kong-bound flights: CX798 and GA860. A total of five passengers suspected of involvement were subsequently detained for further questioning.
These inspections revealed gold shaped like eggs—concealed via insertion into the genital and anal areas—as well as gold hidden inside modified underwear. In total, officers detained seven passengers and seized 41 pieces of gold weighing 17.436 kilograms, with an estimated market value of IDR 46 billion. Testing with an XRF Mineral Detector confirmed that all the seized gold had a purity of 99.99% (24-karat) Au.
A case review determined that the seven passengers met the criteria for the criminal offense of export smuggling, as stipulated in Article 102A, letter a, of Law Number 17 of 2006 regarding Amendments to Law Number 10 of 1995 concerning Customs.
Less than 24 hours later, officers thwarted another gold smuggling attempt. A ground handling staff member was found transporting gold through a dedicated employee route—specifically the loading dock—intending to hand it over to a passenger bound for Dubai on flight EK357.
Inspections revealed seven cast gold bars weighing 6.357 kilograms—with an estimated market value of IDR 17 billion—stored in a backpack and a cabin suitcase without the necessary customs documentation.
The Finance Minister emphasized that customs oversight cannot rely solely on physical inspections; instead, it requires a combination of technology, risk analysis, data utilization, field surveillance, and inter-agency synergy.
“Every discovery must be investigated further; the inquiry should not stop at the person carrying the goods but must also determine the goods’ origin, the intended recipient, and all parties involved. Moving forward, oversight of international goods and passenger traffic will be further strengthened, particularly regarding high-value commodities subject to customs requirements and related regulations,” the Finance Minister asserted.
In total, through these two enforcement actions, Customs seized 23.793 kilograms of gold with an estimated market value of IDR 63 billion. To advance the investigation and trace the gold’s origins, Soekarno-Hatta Customs is conducting in synergy with the National Police Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim Polri) and the Directorate General of Law Enforcement (Gakkum) of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM).
The government reminds the public that transporting gold abroad requires compliance with applicable customs and export regulations. Regulations regarding passenger-carried goods are governed, among others, by Minister of Finance Regulation (PMK) Number 203/PMK.04/2017, as amended by PMK Number 34 of 2025. Additionally, effective December 23, 2025, PMK Number 80 of 2025 applies, regulating specific types of gold exports subject to Export Duty.
The public is advised to declare any gold being taken abroad to Customs officers, address any Export Duty obligations, and comply with regulations regarding prohibitions and restrictions. The government continues to strengthen oversight and provide education to ensure that export activities and the transport of goods abroad are conducted legally, transparently, and in accordance with regulations.
