ESDM to trace source of gold export smuggling from upstream

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has stated it will trace the route of illegal gold export smuggling from the upstream to the downstream side.

The statement follows a series of enforcement actions against attempted illegal gold smuggling by the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) of the Ministry of Finance at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Banten.

Secretary of the Directorate General of Law Enforcement at the Ministry of ESDM, Sahid Junaidi, explained during a press conference at the DJBC Head Office in Jakarta on Tuesday that the tracing efforts include tracking the primary financiers and examining the legality of mining activities.

“We at the Ministry of ESDM understand that mining is capital-intensive. Therefore, in ESDM law enforcement, we will investigate further regarding the financiers,” said Sahid.

According to him, the process will subsequently be linked to the provisions of Article 161 of Law Number 3 of 2020 concerning Amendments to Law Number 4 of 2009 on Mineral and Coal Mining, which regulates criminal sanctions for any person or legal entity that accommodates, transports, processes, or sells mining products that do not originate from official permit holders.

In addition to the distribution chain and the financiers, the government will examine the legality aspects of mining activities. The examination includes, among other things, the ownership and validity of mining business permits as well as other permits related to the activity.

“Then, we link it to the mining and also its processing permits. So, we look at it from the legality side of the mining business permit,” he said.

Previously, the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) of the Ministry of Finance again foiled an attempt to export gold cast bars that were not accompanied by customs documents and permits, with total gold evidence amounting to 22.317 kilograms (kg) at Terminal 3 International Departures of Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Banten.

The enforcement action is part of Customs supervision of gold export attempts through Soekarno-Hatta Airport.

On 10-11 August 2026, Customs at Soekarno-Hatta together with Aviation Security (Avsec) also foiled two gold export attempts with a total of 23.793 kg of seized goods and an estimated market value of Rp63 billion.

Throughout January-August 2026, Customs has foiled 32 cases of attempted illegal gold export smuggling worth Rp846.94 billion.