Djalaluddin Gorontalo Airport Officers Prevent the Delivery of 1.3 Kg of Illegal Gold

Gold pieces with a total weight of 1.3 kg were found by Avsec officers at Djalaluddin Gorontalo Airport from two prospective airplane passengers. ANTARA/HO-Public Relations of Djalaluddin Gorontalo Airport

JAKARTA - Aviation Security (Avsec) officers at Djalaluddin Gorontalo Airport, managed to identify and thwart the delivery of dozens of jewelry and gold metal weighing 1.3 kilograms (kg) which were suspected of being illegal.

Head of Djalaluddin Gorontalo Airport Joko Harjani said the findings began when airport officers checked the baggage of prospective airplane passengers using the X-Ray facility.

"At that time, the Avsec officer conducted a passenger security check or Passenger Security Check Point (PSCP) at around 13.40 Wita on Saturday (25/4)," said Joko as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, April 28.

When checking two suitcases carried by two prospective passengers of the Lion Air JT 793 plane on the Gorontalo-Makassar-Jakarta route or GTO-UPG-CGK, officers suspected the contents of the luggage.

Furthermore, to follow up on the suspicion, the officers conducted a thorough manual inspection in a special room within the airport area.

The process of examination in the room was also witnessed directly by the two owners of the goods, as a form of transparency and professionalism.

During the examination, officers found 20 pieces of gold metal and jewelry of various sizes.

According to the oral statements of the two owners of the goods, the total weight of gold in the two suitcases is around 500 grams and 800 grams respectively.

With these findings, he said, the airport immediately coordinated with the Police Sector of the Airport and the personnel of the Criminal Investigation Unit (Satreskrim) of the Gorontalo Police to conduct a joint inspection and further investigation into the legality of the goods.

After conducting a joint inspection, the airport then handed over the findings of the evidence and two prospective passengers to the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Gorontalo Police for further investigation regarding the legality of the goods.

"The two prospective passengers with the found goods, we have handed over to the Gorontalo Police. This is to ensure whether the goods are legal or not," he said.

Wakapolres Gorontalo Commissioner of Police Wanda Dhira Bernard said that his party was conducting an investigation and examination of witnesses, to ensure that the gold was obtained in a legal manner, including having a permit from the relevant agencies.

According to the information obtained, the goods are planned to be taken to Surabaya.

Iamenegaskan pihaknya belum bisa mengkategorikan barang tersebut ilegal hingga semua proses penyelidikan selesai.

"We also cannot make a determination of suspects and detention of the prospective passengers, but have secured both of them for 24 hours for further investigation," he added.