Customs Stops 29 Kilograms of Suspected Smuggled Gold at Indonesian Airports
Kabarsaji.com – Indonesian Customs officers have intercepted roughly 29 kilograms of gold in a series of airport enforcement actions spanning four international gateways, with the seized items valued at an estimated Rp73.3 billion.
The cases unfolded from September 5 to September 14, 2026, at Kualanamu International Airport in North Sumatra, Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Banten, I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali, and Sam Ratulangi International Airport in North Sulawesi. Authorities said the operations also protected potential state revenue estimated at Rp8.5 billion.
“From September 5 to 14, Customs officers seized various types of gold weighing approximately 29 kilograms at four international airports,”
Director General of Customs Djaka Budhi delivered the statement during a press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday, September 15, 2026. The cases involved several concealment methods, including gold hidden in electronic equipment, packed inside passenger luggage, and strapped directly to the body.
Largest Individual Seizure Reported in Bali
One of the biggest seizures took place at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport on Sunday, September 6. Officers stopped a Chinese national identified as ZG while attempting to take 14 gold bars out of Indonesia.
The bars weighed 10,418.3 grams in total and were valued at around Rp26 billion. Customs said the items had been concealed through a body-strapping method. The incident carried an estimated potential loss to state revenue of Rp3.9 billion.
Body-strapping involves securing items beneath clothing or against the body in an effort to avoid attention during passenger screening. The method can make detection more difficult, particularly when travelers rely on ordinary luggage inspections being the primary focus of airport controls.
Two Passengers Held at Soekarno-Hatta
At Terminal III of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Customs officers detained two Chinese nationals, identified as MZ and SL, on Thursday, September 10. Both passengers were preparing to travel to Hong Kong and were suspected of attempting to carry gold overseas without the required Customs documentation.
Officials coordinated with aviation security personnel, immigration staff, and the airline after intelligence analysis flagged a recurring pattern connected to gold-smuggling attempts. Searches found 10 cast gold bars weighing a combined 10,053 grams.
Five bars weighing 5,026.5 grams were discovered in SL’s backpack, while another five bars with the same total weight were located in MZ’s cabin luggage. The gold was wrapped in duct tape and had an estimated value of Rp25.3 billion. Potential state revenue losses in the case were put at Rp2.5 billion.
“The pattern shows that the perpetrators are generally foreign nationals traveling to Hong Kong, carrying gold in cabin luggage and backpacks and wrapping the gold in duct tape to evade detection,”
The case illustrates the importance of intelligence-led screening at major transit points. Airport inspections may include examination of travel patterns, baggage, documentation, and information shared among agencies, rather than relying solely on routine physical checks.
Electronic Devices and Gold Powder Among Other Methods
At Kualanamu International Airport, officers acted on Monday, September 14, after becoming suspicious of an Indian national identified as NU, who was scheduled to fly to Bangkok, Thailand. A luggage examination uncovered four metal pieces believed to be gold concealed within electronic devices.
The items weighed approximately 1,522 grams and were estimated to be worth Rp3.95 billion. Customs calculated possible state revenue losses at Rp383 million.
Two separate actions were also conducted at Sam Ratulangi International Airport in Manado on Saturday, September 5, by a joint Customs team from the North Sulawesi and North Maluku Regional Office.
In the first operation, three Chinese nationals identified as JM, ZW, and TC were detained before a planned trip to Singapore. Officers found 19 packages containing powder suspected to be gold, weighing 5,721 grams. The material was valued at an estimated Rp14.5 billion, with potential state revenue losses of Rp1.45 billion.
In the second Manado case, two Chinese nationals identified as ZS and ZH were stopped while preparing to travel to Guangzhou. Officers discovered jewelry weighing 1,352 grams in total. The jewelry was estimated to be worth Rp3.6 billion, while the potential impact on state revenue was assessed at Rp360 million.
Investigation and Compliance Reminder
Customs will pursue the investigations alongside the Police Criminal Investigation Department and the Attorney General’s Office. The coordination is intended to support the handling of suspected offenses and trace the broader circumstances surrounding the attempted shipments.
Djaka said Customs is strengthening its oversight through improved intelligence analysis, better use of information, risk-based inspections, and cooperation with relevant institutions. The approach reflects the variety of methods used in the four cases, from personal carry-on bags to concealed items and wearable hiding techniques.
Travelers carrying gold out of Indonesia are advised to ensure that Customs documents and permits are completed in line with applicable regulations. Proper declarations and supporting paperwork are central to lawful cross-border transport, particularly when valuable goods are carried through international airports.
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