Customs foils export of 22 kg gold bars without documents at Soekarno-Hatta
The Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) of the Ministry of Finance has again foiled an attempt to export gold bars (cast bars) that were not accompanied by customs documents and permits, with a total of 22.317 kilograms of gold seized as evidence at Terminal 3 International Departures of Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Banten.
Director General of Customs and Excise Djaka Budhi Utama, in a press conference at the DJBC Head Office in Jakarta on Tuesday, explained that the enforcement action was part of Customs surveillance of gold export attempts through Soekarno-Hatta Airport.
Previously, on 10-11 August 2026, Soekarno-Hatta Customs together with Aviation Security (Avsec) also foiled two gold export attempts with a total of 23.793 kg seized, with an estimated market value of Rp63 billion.
The inspection of the 22.317 kg this time was carried out on two Chinese nationals with the initials ZC and ZL. Officers secured 30 gold bars, which based on estimated market value, are worth around Rp60 billion in total.
The enforcement began with analysis by the Passenger Analysis Unit (PAU) and Post Seizure Analysis (PSA) teams of the gold-carrying patterns found in the previous enforcement action.
The analysis produced information about a number of passengers indicated to be connected.
Customs then inspected ZC and ZL, who were known to be passengers on a Jakarta-Hong Kong flight scheduled to depart at 23.50 WIB.
From the inspection, two different smuggling methods were found.
First, ZC was found to be carrying seven gold bars weighing 8.237 kilograms, with an estimated value of around Rp22.2 billion. The gold was hidden inside a pouch which was then placed in a cabin suitcase.
In addition, further investigation revealed that the carrying of gold by ZC allegedly involved an airport officer who exploited access to airport operational routes to transport the gold using a wheelchair from the domestic terminal to the international terminal.
The handover of goods between ZC and the airport officer allegedly took place in the toilet area, before the gold was placed in the cabin suitcase carried by ZC.
Second, ZL was found to be carrying 23 gold bars weighing 14.080 kilograms, with an estimated value of around Rp38 billion.
Unlike ZC, ZL hid the gold by strapping it to his body (body strapping). This method was carried out by placing the gold on parts of the body, so that it was not directly visible as ordinary luggage.
From both passengers, all the gold found was not accompanied by the required customs documents or export permits.
For their actions, ZC and ZL have been detained and are undergoing investigation. Both are charged under Article 102A of Law Number 17 of 2006 concerning Amendments to Law Number 10 of 1995 concerning Customs.
Meanwhile, the airport officer suspected of being involved in the gold smuggling network is still being investigated by Customs together with the airport authorities and law enforcement officials.
“We will continue to trace the parties behind this network and take firm action. The legal process is still ongoing and will be carried out professionally in accordance with applicable regulations,” said Djaka.