Customs blocks 29 kg of illegal gold exports at four Indonesian airports

Jakarta — Indonesia’s Directorate General of Customs and Excise says it blocked attempts to move more than 29 kilograms of gold and suspected gold illegally through four international airports between 5 and 14 September 2026, with one of the largest seizures made at Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.

Director General of Customs and Excise Djaka Budhi Utama told a press conference in Jakarta on 15 September that officers intercepted the metal across Sam Ratulangi Airport in Manado, I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport in Denpasar, Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Tangerang and Kualanamu Airport in Deli Serdang.

According to several reports citing Djaka, the total weight came to around 29 kilograms, with an estimated value of approximately Rp73.3 billion and potential state revenue preserved of about Rp8.5 billion in export duties.

Customs officials said the alleged smuggling methods included hiding gold in electronic equipment, placing bars and jewelry in cabin luggage and backpacks, and strapping bullion to passengers’ bodies.

The agency stated that the cases are being processed in coordination with law enforcement institutions, including the police and prosecutors, under applicable customs and export regulations.

Seizure in Bali

At I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar, officers seized gold bars from a foreign passenger on an outbound international flight during the same 5–14 September enforcement period.

Tempo and other outlets, citing Customs, report that officers confiscated approximately 10.4 kilograms of gold bars valued at about Rp26.24 billion from a Chinese national identified by the initials ZG.

Officials said the bars were carried on the passenger’s person, with the gold strapped to the body to avoid detection, and that the commodity was being taken out of Indonesia without the required customs export documentation.

Customs said all evidence in the Bali case has been seized and will be processed further under Indonesian law.

Breakdown by airport

According to data presented by Customs and reported by multiple Indonesian media organisations, the four airports recorded the following amounts and values in the 5–14 September operations:

• Sam Ratulangi (Manado): About 7.08 kilograms of gold in two linked cases, with an estimated value of roughly Rp18.1 billion, seized from five Chinese nationals identified by the initials JW, ZW, TC, ZH and ZS.
• I Gusti Ngurah Rai (Denpasar): Around 10.4 kilograms of gold bars worth an estimated Rp26.24 billion, confiscated from one Chinese passenger identified as ZG.
• Soekarno-Hatta (Tangerang): Approximately 10.05 kilograms of gold bars valued at about Rp25.4 billion, seized from two Chinese nationals with initials ZM and LS.
• Kualanamu (Deli Serdang): About 1.52 kilograms of gold estimated at Rp3.95 billion, intercepted from an Indian national identified as MINU.

Customs officials said some of the consignments were concealed inside electronic devices, including voltage stabilisers, while others were wrapped in tape and hidden in carry-on bags.

Follow-up and wider context

In addition to the 29 kilograms seized in the September operation, Djaka said Customs had intercepted a total of around 330 kilograms of illegal gold exports in various cases up to 14 September 2026, underlining increased scrutiny of outbound passengers at major international hubs.

He said Customs had confiscated all seized gold and suspected gold for further investigation and legal processing, stressing that export regulations require proper documentation and payment of any applicable export duties on precious metals.

Sources

• Tempo.co – "Dalam Dua Pekan, Bea Cukai Cegah Penyelundupan 29 Kg Emas"
• MSN rehost – "Bea Cukai gagalkan penyelundupan 29 kg emas senilai Rp 73,3 miliar di 4 bandara"
• Liputan6 – "Modus Pelaku Selundupkan 29 Kg Emas Senilai Rp 73,3 Miliar di 4 Bandara"
• IDN Times – "Bea Cukai Amankan 29 Kg Emas di 4 Bandara, Nilainya Rp73,3 Miliar"
• Bernas.id – "Bea Cukai Gagalkan 330 Kg Emas Selundupan, Negara Selamatkan Rp8,5 Miliar"
• Tirto.id – "Bea Cukai Bongkar Penyelundupan 29 Kg Emas, Nilai Capai Rp73,3 M"