Customs Foils Rp60 Billion Gold Smuggling Attempt to Hong Kong
The Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) has again foiled an attempt to smuggle gold bars out of the country through Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. Officers seized 30 gold bars weighing a total of 22.317 kilograms, worth around Rp60 billion, which were to be taken to Hong Kong by two Chinese nationals.
Director General of Customs and Excise Djaka Budhi Utama said the operation was carried out at Terminal 3 International Departures of Soekarno-Hatta Airport on Thursday (13/8/2026). The two suspects, identified as ZC and ZL, were detained as they were about to board a Jakarta-Hong Kong flight.
“This is clear evidence that Customs works 24 hours a day. When we announce one case to the public, officers in the field are already moving to target the next one,” Djaka said at a press conference at Customs Headquarters on Tuesday (18/8/2026).
Djaka explained that the case began with intelligence analysis by the Passenger Analysis Unit (PAU) and Post Seizure Analysis (PSA) teams, which mapped gold smuggling patterns from previous cases. From this analysis, officers found indications of links between several passengers suspected of illegally carrying gold out of the country.
Following up on these findings, Soekarno-Hatta Customs coordinated with the airline, Aviation Security (Avsec), Immigration, and other relevant parties in the international departure area. Officers identified two Chinese passengers who were about to fly to Hong Kong at 11.50 pm local time.
During the first inspection, officers found seven gold bars weighing 8.237 kilograms, worth approximately Rp22.2 billion, carried by ZC. The gold was hidden in a pouch placed in a cabin bag. Further investigation led Customs to suspect the involvement of airport staff in the smuggling process. The modus operandi involved using airport operational routes to transport the gold in a wheelchair from the domestic terminal to the international terminal. Officers also suspect the handover of the gold took place in an airport toilet before the items were placed in the cabin bag carried by the suspect.
The second suspect, ZL, was found carrying 23 gold bars weighing 14.080 kilograms, worth approximately Rp38 billion. Unlike his accomplice, ZL used body strapping, attaching the gold directly to his body to avoid detection.
According to Djaka, all the gold carried by the two suspects lacked the required customs documents and export permits. Notably, the operation was carried out just minutes before the plane departed. ZC was detained at 11.36 pm and ZL at 11.48 pm, only about 14 minutes and two minutes before the scheduled departure time.
“The suspects were already at the boarding gate and would have nearly escaped had Customs officers been late. But thanks to intelligence analysis and rapid coordination, we managed to foil the attempt,” Djaka said.
Both suspects have been detained and are undergoing investigation. They are charged under Article 102A of Law Number 17 of 2006 on Customs. Meanwhile, the suspected involvement of airport staff is still being investigated by Customs together with airport authorities and law enforcement agencies.
“We will not stop at taking action against the carriers. We will continue to trace the parties behind this network and take firm action,” Djaka said.
This case adds to a series of gold smuggling discoveries at Soekarno-Hatta Airport in recent times. Previously, on 10 and 11 August 2026, Customs and Avsec also foiled two illegal gold export attempts with total evidence reaching 23.793 kilograms, worth around Rp63 billion.
According to Customs, perpetrators continue to develop various smuggling methods, from hiding gold on their bodies, in modified clothing, in cabin bags, to exploiting airport operational routes. The DJBC has therefore pledged to continue strengthening intelligence-based supervision, risk analysis, selective inspection, and coordination with various stakeholders to close loopholes for smuggling high-value goods out of the country.