Criminal Investigation Agency Seizes 4 Boxes of Gold Bars Linked to Rp25.8 Trillion Money Laundering Case
Investigators from the Directorate of Special Economic Crimes (Dittipideksus) at the National Police's Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) have seized four large containers of evidence, including gold bars, during raids connected to an alleged money laundering operation valued at Rp25.8 trillion.
The seizure was carried out following the search of a house at Jalan Tampomas No. 3, Surabaya, on Thursday (19 February).
Brigadier General Ade Safri Simanjuntak, Director of Special Economic Crimes at Bareskrim, said the seized evidence included documents, cash, electronic evidence, and gold bars believed to be linked to the criminal offence.
"We carried out the seizure as part of search operations conducted from morning until evening today, covering letters, documents, electronic evidence, cash, and other evidence related to the alleged criminal offence, including gold. Gold bars, yes," Ade Safri said at the search location.
The search operation ran from 11:00 Western Indonesian Time until past 20:00. Upon departing the premises, investigators removed four large containers believed to contain heavy evidence items.
Before leaving the location, investigators also underwent inspection by Internal Affairs (Propam) officers, including checks of clothing pockets and personal belongings.
Ade Safri stated that the quantity of gold seized from the search location amounted to tens of kilogrammes, although the precise weight was still being recorded.
"Yes, gold is included. We will provide an update later, but it is clearly more than several kilogrammes," he said.
In addition to Surabaya, investigators also conducted searches at two other locations in Nganjuk Regency, East Java — a gold shop and a residential property. One of the premises searched was Toko Emas Semar (Semar Gold Shop).
"Today there were three locations searched. One residential property here in Surabaya, and then two other locations in Nganjuk Regency. One of them is a gold shop and the other is a residential property," Ade Safri said.
The searches and seizures form part of the ongoing development of an investigation into alleged money laundering originating from unlicensed gold mining activities (known locally as PETI — Pertambangan Emas Tanpa Izin).
The case is an extension of an illegal gold mining prosecution in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, which occurred during the 2019–2022 period and has reached a legally binding verdict at the Pontianak District Court, with the principal convict identified by the initials FL and dozens of other defendants.
According to Ade Safri, the expanded investigation was launched after the discovery of fund flows and gold trading transactions allegedly originating from illegal mining activities of an extraordinary scale.
"Based on preliminary investigative findings, the accumulated transactions related to gold trading allegedly originating from illegal or unlicensed mining during the period 2019 to 2025 have reached Rp25.8 trillion," he said.
These findings were corroborated by an Analysis Report (LHA) from the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) regarding suspicious transactions related to domestic gold trading, including alleged fund flows to various parties and the involvement of gold refining companies and exporters.
Police suspect that the purchase of illegally mined gold was conducted partly or entirely through gold refining companies and export firms.
To date, investigators have examined 37 witnesses to trace fund flows and determine the roles of those involved. The police are also collaborating with PPATK to scrutinise the transactions and identify the principal suspects in the case.
"So far, 37 witnesses have been examined and the investigation is still ongoing to search for and gather evidence that will shed light on the criminal offence and identify the suspects," Ade Safri said.
He emphasised that the investigation would be conducted professionally and thoroughly, reaffirming the police's commitment to taking firm action against those who receive, process, utilise, or trade the proceeds of illegal mining.
"This money laundering investigation is one of our law enforcement approaches, whereby business operators who receive, utilise, process or refine, or sell any minerals originating from illegal mining will certainly face firm legal action," he said.
The seizure was carried out following the search of a house at Jalan Tampomas No. 3, Surabaya, on Thursday (19 February).
Brigadier General Ade Safri Simanjuntak, Director of Special Economic Crimes at Bareskrim, said the seized evidence included documents, cash, electronic evidence, and gold bars believed to be linked to the criminal offence.
"We carried out the seizure as part of search operations conducted from morning until evening today, covering letters, documents, electronic evidence, cash, and other evidence related to the alleged criminal offence, including gold. Gold bars, yes," Ade Safri said at the search location.
The search operation ran from 11:00 Western Indonesian Time until past 20:00. Upon departing the premises, investigators removed four large containers believed to contain heavy evidence items.
Before leaving the location, investigators also underwent inspection by Internal Affairs (Propam) officers, including checks of clothing pockets and personal belongings.
Ade Safri stated that the quantity of gold seized from the search location amounted to tens of kilogrammes, although the precise weight was still being recorded.
"Yes, gold is included. We will provide an update later, but it is clearly more than several kilogrammes," he said.
In addition to Surabaya, investigators also conducted searches at two other locations in Nganjuk Regency, East Java — a gold shop and a residential property. One of the premises searched was Toko Emas Semar (Semar Gold Shop).
"Today there were three locations searched. One residential property here in Surabaya, and then two other locations in Nganjuk Regency. One of them is a gold shop and the other is a residential property," Ade Safri said.
The searches and seizures form part of the ongoing development of an investigation into alleged money laundering originating from unlicensed gold mining activities (known locally as PETI — Pertambangan Emas Tanpa Izin).
The case is an extension of an illegal gold mining prosecution in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, which occurred during the 2019–2022 period and has reached a legally binding verdict at the Pontianak District Court, with the principal convict identified by the initials FL and dozens of other defendants.
According to Ade Safri, the expanded investigation was launched after the discovery of fund flows and gold trading transactions allegedly originating from illegal mining activities of an extraordinary scale.
"Based on preliminary investigative findings, the accumulated transactions related to gold trading allegedly originating from illegal or unlicensed mining during the period 2019 to 2025 have reached Rp25.8 trillion," he said.
These findings were corroborated by an Analysis Report (LHA) from the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) regarding suspicious transactions related to domestic gold trading, including alleged fund flows to various parties and the involvement of gold refining companies and exporters.
Police suspect that the purchase of illegally mined gold was conducted partly or entirely through gold refining companies and export firms.
To date, investigators have examined 37 witnesses to trace fund flows and determine the roles of those involved. The police are also collaborating with PPATK to scrutinise the transactions and identify the principal suspects in the case.
"So far, 37 witnesses have been examined and the investigation is still ongoing to search for and gather evidence that will shed light on the criminal offence and identify the suspects," Ade Safri said.
He emphasised that the investigation would be conducted professionally and thoroughly, reaffirming the police's commitment to taking firm action against those who receive, process, utilise, or trade the proceeds of illegal mining.
"This money laundering investigation is one of our law enforcement approaches, whereby business operators who receive, utilise, process or refine, or sell any minerals originating from illegal mining will certainly face firm legal action," he said.