Bali customs officials seize 10.4 kg of gold bars in smuggling attempt

Customs officials at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali intercepted an illegal attempt to export approximately 10.4 kilograms of gold bars destined for Hong Kong. The seized gold, consisting of 14 cast bars with a purity exceeding 99 percent, is valued at an estimated Rp26 billion.

The suspect, a Chinese national identified by the initials ZG, was apprehended on September 6 while attempting to board a Cathay Pacific flight. According to Wawan Dharmawan, Head of the Ngurah Rai Customs Office, the individual utilized a “body strapping” method, attaching the gold to his body to evade direct detection during inspections.

The operation was initiated following intelligence reports regarding the passenger. After observing suspicious behavior during the boarding process, officials coordinated with airport security and immigration to conduct a thorough search, discovering ten brown packages containing the precious metal. The seizure is estimated to have prevented a potential state loss of approximately Rp3.9 billion.