August 13, 2026 | 09:52 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Directorate General of Customs and Excise at Indonesia’s Finance Ministry thwarted two cases of gold export smuggling through Terminal 3 of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on August 11, 2026. In the two cases, a total of 23.79 kilograms of gold was found with an estimated market value of Rp63 billion.
Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa stated that there were two distinct methods in the two cases. In the first case, the gold was concealed in various ways, including inserting it into the genitals and anus. In the second case, ground handling staff transported the gold through airport operational channels.
Purbaya stated that customs supervision cannot rely solely on physical inspections, but requires a combination of technology, risk analysis, data utilization, field supervision, and cross-agency synergy. "We need to examine where the goods originate, how they are transported, to whom they will be delivered, and who is involved," he said at a press conference at the Soekarno-Hatta Customs and Excise Office in Tangerang on Thursday, August 13, 2026.
Customs and Excise DG, Djaka Budhi Utama, explained that in the first case, the perpetrators were seven foreign passengers bound for Hong Kong. The evidence found included 41 cylindrical 24-karat gold pieces weighing a total of 17.43 kilograms, or approximately Rp46 billion.
In the second case, the investigation began with a tip from Aviation Security (AVSEC) about ground handling staff allegedly smuggling gold in carry-on bags at the loading dock of Terminal 3. According to Djaka, the goods were then handed over to passengers bound for Dubai.
"The action was taken against two Indonesian citizens, a ground handling staff member and a passenger bound for Dubai," said Djaka. The evidence found included seven gold bars of varying grades, weighing 6.35 kilograms and valued at approximately Rp17 billion.
Read: What Could Drive Gold Prices Higher Next Week?
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