National Police Criminal Investigation Unit Raids Gold Shops in Connection with Illegal Gold Money Laundering
Jakarta (ANTARA) — The Special Economic Crimes Directorate (Dittipideksus) of the National Police Criminal Investigation Unit (Bareskrim Polri) has raided a gold shop as part of a money laundering investigation relating to the receiving, utilisation, processing and/or refining, and sale of gold originating from unlicensed or illegal mining operations.
Dittipideksus Director Brigadier General Ade Safri Simanjuntak stated that in addition to the gold shop, investigators also searched two other locations, though he declined to disclose their precise details.
“Today, Dittipideksus Bareskrim Polri investigators conducted simultaneous searches at three locations in the Surabaya and Nganjuk areas,” he told journalists in Jakarta on Thursday.
Ade explained that the case was opened based on an analytical report from the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) concerning suspicious transactions related to the domestic gold trade conducted by gold shops, as well as trading activities by gold refining companies exporting abroad using gold suspected of originating from unlicensed gold mining operations (PETI).
The illegal gold mining practices that occurred in West Kalimantan between 2019 and 2022 have already been fully investigated, with the verdict now having permanent legal force at the Pontianak District Court.
Nevertheless, based on evidence gathered during the investigation into the predicate offence and court proceedings, it was found that illegal gold funds had flowed to several parties.
“It has been established that there are channels for the shipment of illegal gold and flows of proceeds from PETI criminal activity to several parties who are now the subject of a money laundering investigation by Dittipideksus Bareskrim Polri,” he said.
Based on preliminary investigation findings, the cumulative value of transactions involving the buying and selling of gold suspected of originating from illegal mining during the 2019–2025 period reached Rp25.8 trillion.
This figure, he continued, comprises purchases of gold originating from illegal mines as well as the partial or complete sale of such gold to several gold refining companies and export firms.
During the searches conducted on Thursday, investigators seized several items of evidence, including documents and other items suspected of being proceeds of money laundering related to the receiving, utilisation, processing and/or refining, and sale of gold from unlicensed mining.
The one-star police general added that investigators would also collaborate with the PPATK to trace the relevant financial transactions.
“It is hoped that the handling of this case will serve as a deterrent for perpetrators of illegal mining crimes, as part of efforts to protect environmental sustainability, prevent losses to state finances, and safeguard the continuity of natural resources for future generations,” he said.