Bareskrim Seizes 6 Kg of Gold and Rp 1.4 Billion in Cash Related to Illegal Mining Money Laundering Case
The Directorate of Special Economic Crimes (Dittipideksus) of Bareskrim Polri has seized 6 kg of gold and Rp 1.4 billion in cash from three gold refining and trading companies in East Java. The seizure was conducted in connection with a suspected money laundering case stemming from illegal mining.
The seizure took place following searches by Bareskrim in Surabaya and Sidoarjo Regency on Thursday (12/3). Director of Special Economic Crimes at Bareskrim Polri, Brigadier General Ade Safri Simanjuntak, stated that the searches were carried out at PT Simba Jaya Utama (SJU), PT Indah Golden Signature (IGS), and PT Suka Jadi Logam (SJL).
“The investigative team has seized evidence including precious metal gold weighing approximately 6 kilograms in various sizes, documents or letters, electronic evidence, cash amounting to Rp 1,454,000,000, and other evidence related to the suspected criminal act,” Ade told reporters on Tuesday (31/3/2026).
The searches are part of the investigation into the suspected money laundering case originating from illegal gold mining activities without permits (PETI) or illegal mining over the period from 2019 to 2025. Ade said the seized gold is still undergoing appraisal.
“The seized gold is still being appraised for its purity and weight by the forensic laboratory, and the electronic evidence is undergoing scientific examination by the Polri forensic laboratory,” he stated.
Previously, Ade Safri explained that the case’s uncovering was based on a financial transaction reporting and analysis report (LHA) from the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK). Police suspect suspicious transactions related to domestic gold trading by gold refining companies that allegedly used gold from illegal mines.
The illegal mining occurred in West Kalimantan (Kalbar), West Papua, and other locations. Several cases have already received final court decisions from the Pontianak District Court (PN) and Manokwari District Court (PN).
Based on PPATK data, the total value of gold buying and selling transactions from illegal mining during the 2019-2025 period reached Rp 25.8 trillion. The modus operandi involves purchasing gold from illegal mines, either partially or entirely, by gold refining companies and exporters.
On 19-20 February, Dittipideksus Bareskrim Polri investigators had searched several locations in Nganjuk and Surabaya. In those searches, investigators seized various evidence including:
Invoice documents, purchase orders, delivery notes, buy-sell transaction records, and electronic evidence;
Gold in various jewellery forms with a total weight of 8.16 kg;
Gold in bar form with a total weight of approximately 51.3 kg, estimated to be worth around Rp 150 billion;
Cash amounting to Rp 7.13 billion, consisting of Rupiah Rp 6,177,860,000 and USD 60,000 (approximately Rp 960 million).
Investigators have also held a case review and named three suspects: two men with initials TW and BSW, and one woman with initials DW.