Not an Ordinary Liquid: Gold Turned into Gel to Deceive Airport Officers
The Directorate of Special Crimes (Dittipidter) of the Indonesian National Police’s Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim Polri) has uncovered an alleged illegal gold smuggling operation using a method designed to deceive airport officers. Gold originally in bar form was melted into powder, then processed into a gel and hidden in modified underwear.
The case came to light after investigators raided a house and the White Classic Gold & Silver gold shop in the Sunter area of North Jakarta on Monday, 17 August 2026. The raid was part of the development of a case involving the alleged illegal smuggling of gold to Dubai involving Indian nationals.
Director of Special Crimes (Dirtipidter) at Bareskrim Polri, Brigadier General Pol. Moh. Irhamni, explained that the perpetrators used several stages to alter the form of the gold before smuggling it.
Gold Bars Turned into Gel
Irhamni explained that gold in bar form was first melted using a device until it turned into powder. The gold powder was then mixed with chemicals and certain colouring agents.
After this process, the gold powder turned into a gel. This material was then inserted into underwear that had previously been modified.
The method was used to avoid inspection at Soekarno-Hatta Airport. According to Irhamni, changing the gold into gel form made the material undetectable as metal during inspection using the airport’s X-ray machines.
Furthermore, when touched, the gel was said to have a texture resembling skin or felt springy, making it more difficult to identify as gold.
“It was inserted into men’s underpants and women’s bras. To avoid inspection at Soekarno-Hatta Airport,” said Irhamni in a video statement received in Jakarta on Tuesday, 18 August 2026.
Police Seize Gold and Modification Machines
During the raid in the Sunter area, investigators found and seized a number of items believed to be related to the processing and smuggling of illegal gold.
Evidence secured included:
One gold bar weighing 1 kilogram
Sewing machines for modifying underwear
Chemicals
A blender used in the gold processing
Several bank account books
Investigators are also still examining the activities of the White Classic Gold & Silver gold shop, which is suspected of being connected to the smuggling network.