Customs Disrupts 2.9 Kilogram Gold Smuggling to Malaysia

BANDA ACEH - A joint team of the Banda Aceh Customs and a number of institutions arrested a Chinese citizen with the initials GP who was suspected of smuggling 2,989 grams of gold bars through the Sultan Iskandar Muda International Airport, Aceh Besar, to Malaysia.

Head of the Type C Customs Office of Customs and Excise Supervision and Service, Banda Aceh, Rahmat Priyandoko, said the action was taken on Wednesday (1/7) at around 17.30 WIB.

"GP was arrested for illegally carrying gold bars. GP is a passenger on a commercial plane to Malaysia," said Rahmat as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, July 9.

He explained that the disclosure was the second case of smuggling gold through Sultan Iskandar Muda Airport. Previously, the joint team also thwarted the smuggling of 527 grams of gold bars.

Rahmat said the action started from intelligence information which was then followed up by Customs together with Angkasa Pura personnel, Aceh Police, Banda Aceh Police, Banda Aceh Immigration Office, and Sultan Iskandar Muda Air Force with surveillance of passengers.

The officer then suspected a passenger who was about to fly to Malaysia. When checked, the officer found two gold bars weighing almost three kilograms in a small bag he was carrying.

"Based on the initial examination, the foreign citizen did not provide data on the goods he was carrying to avoid customs," he said.

According to Rahmat, based on the Ministry of Trade's reference price, the value of the two gold bars is estimated to reach IDR 7.254 billion.

Currently, GP is detained at the Aceh Police for the purpose of investigation. Investigators are also investigating the origin of the gold, including the possibility of it coming from legal or illegal mining activities.

Rahmat emphasized that the action was a form of commitment by Customs in protecting the national economy as well as securing state revenues.

He added that the Banda Aceh Customs together with related institutions will continue to tighten supervision to close the gap in smuggling high-value commodities.

"We also appeal to all business actors and the public to always comply with the applicable export regulations in order to create a fair, healthy trading climate and make optimal contributions to the national economy," said Rahmat.