Jambi Police Foil Illegal Gold Smuggling of 2.3kg in Bungo Regency

Jambi Regional Police thwarted the smuggling of eight gold bars weighing 2.3kg on the Central Sumatra Highway in Bungo Regency. Jambi Regional Police Chief Inspector General Krisno H Siregar confirmed the incident to Media Indonesia via Public Affairs Chief Commissioner Erlan Munaji on Tuesday (26/5). ‘Yes. The case is still under investigation by the Bungo Regency Police Criminal Investigation Unit,’ said Erlan Munaji. Erlan explained that the attempted smuggling of 2.3kg of gold, suspected to originate from illegal mining activities or PETI (unlicensed gold mining), was foiled on Thursday, 21 May 2026 last week. Valued at approximately six billion rupiah, the eight gold bars were seized by the Bungo Regency Police Criminal Investigation Unit from a black Toyota Veloz minibus with licence plate BK 1711 AFL (modified) travelling at KM 1 of the Central Sumatra Highway in Pasar Bungo District around 2:30 AM on Thursday. According to Bungo Regency Police Chief AKB Zamri Elfino, the case was uncovered after officers became suspicious of the Toyota Veloz’s movement detected with a modified licence plate. When stopped and searched, the three male passengers were found carrying eight wrapped gold bars in plastic. During interrogation, the suspects admitted the undocumented gold was intended for delivery to North Sumatra. The three male suspects, identified as TK, GF, and IR, along with the suspected illegal gold bars and the vehicle, have been detained and are currently undergoing intensive questioning at Bungo Regency Police Headquarters as of Tuesday. (SL)