Indonesian Customs reports rise in gold smuggling following new export rules

Indonesian Customs officials have reported a surge in gold smuggling attempts following the implementation of stricter export regulations. Under Ministry of Finance Regulation Number 80 of 2025, which took effect in late December 2025, exporters are required to pay export duties and provide surveyor reports for certain gold commodities.

Customs at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport noted that these new requirements have led some exporters to seek illegal channels to bypass regulations. In a separate enforcement action at Zainuddin Abdul Madjid International Airport, Mataram Customs intercepted two smuggling attempts on a single day, totaling approximately Rp 13 billion in value. The seized items included 5,003.6 grams of gold bars and 294.2 grams of gold jewelry.

Authorities stated that the increase in detected smuggling cases is partly due to heightened surveillance and the recent shifts in export policy designed to prevent the unauthorized outflow of commodities.