National Police Seize Four Boxes of Gold Bars from Surabaya Residence
Investigators from the Directorate of Economic and Special Crimes (Dittipideksus) at the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) seized four large container boxes filled with evidence, including gold bars, after searching a residence at Jalan Tampomas No. 3, Surabaya, on Thursday (19 February).
The search was conducted from 11:00 AM to past 8:00 PM local time.
Upon leaving the premises, investigators hauled out four large container boxes one after another, visibly struggling with the weight. The investigators also underwent body checks by the Professional and Security Division (Propam) officers before exiting the residence, with their shirt pockets, jackets, trousers, and bags inspected individually.
Dittipideksus Director Brigadier General Ade Safri Simanjuntak said the search yielded a number of items of evidence, including documents, cash, electronic evidence, and gold bars.
“We carried out seizures from the search conducted from morning until this evening, comprising letters, documents, electronic evidence, cash, and other evidence related to the suspected criminal offence, including gold. Gold bars, yes,” Ade Safri said at the search location on Thursday evening.
Although he did not specify the exact total weight, he indicated that the amount of gold secured from the Surabaya location reached tens of kilogrammes.
“Yes, gold is included in there. We will provide updates later, but it is clearly kilogrammes and more,” he said.
In addition to Surabaya, the Bareskrim team also conducted searches at two other locations in Nganjuk Regency — a gold shop and a private residence.
“So today there were three locations searched. One residential location here in Surabaya, then two other locations in Nganjuk Regency. One of them is a gold shop and the other is a residence,” he said.
Ade Safri explained that the searches and seizures were part of an expanded investigation into suspected money laundering derived from unlicensed gold mining.
The operation, he said, was a development of an illegal mining case in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, supported by an Analysis Report from the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) regarding suspicious transactions worth Rp25.8 trillion.
He said the illegal mining activities originally took place in the West Kalimantan region during the period from 2019 to 2022.
The case has already obtained permanent legal force at the Pontianak District Court, with the principal convict identified by the initials FL along with dozens of other defendants.
However, Ade Safri said his team was now expanding the investigation towards the staggering accumulation of transactions linked to the illegal mining operation, with values reaching tens of trillions of rupiah.
“Based on preliminary investigative findings, it is known that the accumulated transactions related to the buying and selling of gold suspected to originate from illegal mining or unlicensed mining during the period from 2019 to 2025 reached Rp25.8 trillion,” he said.
37 Witnesses Examined
To date, police have examined 37 witnesses to trace the flow of funds and the roles of the parties involved.
Ade Safri affirmed that the case would be thoroughly investigated in a professional manner until the principal suspects behind the money laundering of illegal gold mining proceeds are identified.
“Up to now there are 37, and the investigation process is still ongoing to search for and gather evidence that will shed light on what occurred and identify the suspects,” he said.
“We guarantee that the investigation of this case will be conducted professionally, transparently, and accountably. Professionally means procedurally and thoroughly. Yes, we guarantee it will be thorough,” Ade Safri added.