Indian Man Caught Hiding Gold Nuggets in Diaper at Airport

An Indian citizen was arrested at Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Tangerang while attempting to smuggle gold. The precious metal was hidden by the man with initials MTNP (44) in a diaper he was wearing.

This case was uncovered by the Soekarno-Hatta Customs. MTNP attempted to smuggle gold ore via a flight to New Delhi, India.

“The gold smuggling in this case is valued at approximately Rp 700 million, which was intended to be taken out by an Indian passenger with initials MTNP,” said the Head of Soekarno-Hatta Customs, Hengky Tomuan Parlindungan Aritonang, during a press conference at the Soekarno-Hatta Customs Office, Tangerang, on Monday (11/5).

He explained that there was 265.7 grams of gold hidden by MTNP in a diaper. MTNP intended to smuggle the gold in nugget form through the route from Soekarno-Hatta Airport to Singapore and then to New Delhi.

Gold Nuggets in Diaper

MTNP was caught attempting to smuggle pure gold worth hundreds of millions while passing checks before flying to India from Soekarno-Hatta Airport. The gold ore was inserted by MTNP into a diaper he was wearing.

“So the nuggets like those in front here are placed into a gel, a gluten gel, then the gold is attached. If you look here, there are visible gold nuggets, then it’s worn. The method used is similar to drug smuggling methods,” he added.

Hengky added that his team separated the gold from the gel in the diaper. The gold was then tested in a laboratory.

“It was found that the items, the nuggets, are a type of precious metal, gold, with a purity of more than 90%, with a total gross weight of 265.7 grams, distributed in two packages and then used as a diaper,” he said.

Promised Rp 5 Million and a Trip in Indonesia

The Indian citizen was promised a wage of Rp 5 million and a holiday in Indonesia if he successfully brought the gold to New Delhi, India. Officials are still investigating MTNP’s confession.

“His confession (wage) is Rp 5 million. But it’s just a promise. He was bought a ticket, then perhaps also a trip in Indonesia. Later, it might be added there,” said Hengky.

Hengky stated that MTNP had been in Indonesia for seven days and stayed at a hotel in Jakarta.

“So if he was sent, according to him, to travel to Indonesia by the sender for a trip to Indonesia. After we checked, it’s true this is his first time in Indonesia,” he explained.

Network Being Investigated

Customs has collaborated with the police to investigate the possibility of other couriers. He suspects there may be other couriers attempting to take gold out of Indonesia without proper documentation.

“But we won’t rule out the possibility that we will continue to tighten controls, looking for others because it might not be just one courier sent by the boss. There might be other couriers, even possibly through other airports, so this case has been coordinated nationally, both between customs and Avsec or Angkasa Pura,” he added.