Criminal Investigation Unit Raids Four-Storey Warehouse in Surabaya Over Suspected Illegal Gold Money Laundering
Surabaya — The Directorate of Special Economic Crimes (Dittipideksus) under the National Police Criminal Investigation Unit (Bareskrim Polri) has struck again. This time, investigators raided a warehouse on Jalan Raya Tengger Kandangan No. 92/59-I, Benowo, Surabaya, strongly suspected of being connected to money laundering (TPPU) stemming from illegal gold mining.
The search operation lasted several hours, from approximately 11.30 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. local time, at the four-storey building. Local residents reported seeing a number of plainclothes officers wearing Bareskrim vests entering and exiting the premises, assisted by uniformed personnel from Surabaya Metropolitan Police (Polrestabes Surabaya) and Benowo Sector Police.
“Yes, they said they were from National Police headquarters. There were also officers from Polrestabes Surabaya and Benowo Sector Police. As for what was searched and what was taken away, I don’t know,” said a source at the location who declined to be named, quoted on Monday, 23 February 2026.
The warehouse had reportedly been in operation for approximately six years. It was originally used as a swiftlet nest storage facility but was later suspected of having been converted into a gold smelting site processing ore from illegal mines.
“It used to be for bird’s nests, but later they say it became a gold smelting warehouse — I don’t know exactly,” the source said.
The raid forms part of a continuing series of enforcement actions by Bareskrim to dismantle suspected money laundering operations linked to illegal gold mining. Previously, investigators also searched a house on Jalan Tampomas, Surabaya.
From that location, officers seized a number of items of evidence, including gold bars. The search, which took place from Thursday, 19 February 2026, from midday until approximately 8.00 p.m., concluded with investigators removing four containers believed to contain gold evidence.
Director of Special Economic Crimes at Bareskrim Polri, Brigadier General Ade Safri Simanjuntak, said the search was conducted from 11.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. The investigation team from Dittipideksus Bareskrim Polri recovered several items of evidence linked to suspected money laundering originating from illegal gold mining.
The successive operations indicate that investigators are actively tracing the flow of funds and the networks behind the alleged illegal gold business. Police have confirmed that legal proceedings will continue until the case is fully resolved.