Indonesia foils gold smuggling attempts involving 7 Chinese nationals, 2 Indonesians at Soekarno-Hatta airport

Indonesian authorities have foiled two attempts to smuggle gold out of the country through Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, seizing nearly 24 kilograms of gold with an estimated value of Rp63 billion (about US$3.53 million).

The two cases were uncovered on 11 August 2026 at Terminal 3 of the airport in Tangerang, Banten, according to the Ministry of Finance and airport authorities.

The cases involved two different methods. In the first, seven foreign passengers travelling to Hong Kong were allegedly carrying gold that had been concealed in various ways.

In the second, a ground-handling staff member was allegedly involved in transferring gold to a passenger travelling to Dubai.

The exchange conversions in this article use a rate of approximately Rp17,860 to US$1 on 13 August 2026.

First case involves seven passengers travelling to Hong Kong

The first operation was carried out through cooperation between the Directorate General of Customs and Excise, Aviation Security (Avsec) personnel and the police.

Authorities detected suspected attempts by seven foreign nationals to carry gold in hand luggage while travelling to Hong Kong.

According to Director General of Customs and Excise Djaka Budhi Utama, officers found 41 pieces of 24-carat gold in cylindrical or egg-like forms.

The gold weighed a total of 17.43 kilograms and was estimated to be worth around Rp46 billion, equivalent to approximately US$2.58 million.

The gold had allegedly been concealed using modified clothing and by inserting it into the body, including the genital area and rectum.

The unusual method of concealment raised the suspicion of officers during the inspection process.

The seven foreign nationals were subsequently detained by Customs and Excise officers for further investigation. Authorities also coordinated with the Metro Jaya Regional Police's supervisory unit for civil servant investigators and prosecutors at the Banten High Prosecutor's Office as part of the investigation.

Second case involves ground-handling staff

The second case began with information received by Avsec concerning suspected gold being carried by a ground-handling staff member through the loading dock of Terminal 3's International Arrivals area.

Airport officers subsequently followed the staff member and detected an alleged handover of the gold to a passenger travelling to Dubai.

Djaka said two Indonesian citizens were involved in the second operation: the ground-handling staff member and the passenger travelling to Dubai.

Officers found seven gold cast bars of varying purity concealed inside a backpack and cabin luggage.

The gold weighed 6.35 kilograms and was valued at around Rp17 billion, equivalent to approximately US$952,000.

The two operations together resulted in the seizure of 23.78 kilograms of gold, with an estimated economic value of about Rp63 billion, or approximately US$3.53 million.

Airport security personnel detect illegal export attempt

In a separate statement, PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia (Persero), also known as InJourney Airports, said its Aviation Security personnel detected an illegal attempt to transport precious metals during an X-ray inspection of baggage at the international loading dock of Terminal 3 on 11 August.

The individual involved was not an InJourney Airports employee.

InJourney Airports said the individual was processed in accordance with applicable procedures, with the airport operator coordinating with the Soekarno-Hatta Customs and Excise Main Service Office, the Region I Airport Authority of the Ministry of Transportation and the airport police.

InJourney Airports President Director Mohammad R. Pahlevi thanked the Ministry of Transportation, Customs and Excise authorities and the Soekarno-Hatta Airport Police for their support in maintaining security at the airport.

He also urged all parties operating at Soekarno-Hatta Airport to protect the airport's reputation by refraining from unlawful activities.

Mohammad said cooperation among stakeholders was an important part of maintaining security throughout the airport complex.

He said the detection and handling of the cases demonstrated the commitment of the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport ecosystem to preventing the transportation of goods that do not comply with regulations and to maintaining safe and orderly flight operations.

Finance minister stresses wider customs controls

Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa said the two cases demonstrated the need for customs supervision to go beyond physical inspections.

He said customs authorities needed to combine technology, risk analysis, data, field surveillance and coordination between government agencies.

“We need to see where the goods came from, how they were transported, who they would be handed over to and who was involved,” Purbaya said at the Soekarno-Hatta Customs and Excise Office in Tangerang on Thursday, 13 August.

Purbaya also inspected the seized gold during the disclosure of the cases.

“This is heavy, seriously heavy. The purity is also high,” he said while weighing the bullion.

He said the operation represented firm action against attempts to export gold through passenger channels without complying with applicable requirements.

“The Ministry of Finance always wants to improve the performance of Customs and Excise. As the guardian of Indonesia's gateway, Customs and Excise must continue to improve its capabilities and always stay ahead in anticipating various methods of smuggling that continue to develop,” Purbaya said.

Gold exports subject to new rules

Djaka said passengers carrying jewellery or gold in any form out of Indonesia were required to declare the items to Customs and Excise officers.

He stressed that transporting gold out of Indonesia was not prohibited, provided that the applicable legal requirements and procedures were followed.

“As the Minister has said, taking gold out of the country is not actually prohibited. However, there are legal rules and procedures that must be complied with by the person carrying it,” Djaka said.

Indonesia has also tightened oversight of gold exports through new trade and fiscal regulations.

Under rules that came into effect at the end of December 2025, gold exports became subject to export duty. Consequently, 2026 is the first year in which export duty has been collected on gold exports.

The seized gold from both cases has been secured for further customs examination and laboratory testing.

The authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the two attempted exports and the parties allegedly involved.