Indonesian customs officials have foiled an attempt to smuggle 22.3 kilograms of gold bars worth approximately Rp 60 billion to Dubai, according to CNN Indonesia. The suspect, an Indian national, was intercepted at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport with the gold concealed in modified underwear.
The arrest was part of a broader operation against an illegal gold export syndicate, as reported by detikNews. Indonesian police from the Bareskrim (Criminal Investigation Agency) searched the syndicate's base of operations following the initial seizure.
Tempo.co reports that the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) stopped the illegal export of the gold bars at the airport. The operation also led to the confiscation of equipment used by the syndicate, including a gold purity testing machine and the specially modified underwear, according to SINDOnews Nasional.
Authorities have not disclosed the full scope of the smuggling network or how long it had been operating. The case highlights ongoing efforts by Indonesian law enforcement to crack down on illegal gold exports, which bypass official channels and deprive the state of revenue.
The investigation is ongoing, and it remains to be seen whether additional arrests will follow as police continue to trace the syndicate's connections both domestically and abroad.
