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2 clusters · 26 sources · 7 days · First seen · Last updated

Gold smuggling interceptions at international airports

Overview

Authorities in the Middle East and Southeast Asia have intercepted significant attempts to smuggle gold through international airports.

In Dubai, customs inspectors at Dubai International Airport discovered 460 grams of 24-carat raw gold. The gold had been professionally concealed as thin rods embedded within the rubber frame and inner structure of a passenger’s suitcase. The passenger, an Asian national, claimed she was unaware of the contents.

In Indonesia, officials at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport seized approximately 23.79 kilograms of gold valued at Rp63 billion. The operation involved seven Chinese nationals and one Indonesian citizen. Smuggling methods included concealing cylindrical gold pieces within the body and using ground handling staff to transfer gold to passengers at loading docks. Indonesian officials suspect illegal mining operations are the primary suppliers for these syndicates.

Investigations into the Indonesian seizures revealed that the intended destinations for the gold were Hong Kong and Dubai. Investigators identified two distinct methods of concealment: couriers hiding gold within their bodies, specifically the genitals and anus, and the aforementioned use of ground handling staff at loading docks.

In response to these incidents, Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has linked the smuggling to illegal gold mining (PETI). The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has pledged to tighten regulations and improve cross-sector coordination with Customs and the Police to combat illegal mining and illicit exports.

Entities

Indonesian National Police · Djaka Budhi Utama · Hengky Tomuan Parlindungan Aritonang · Directorate General of Customs and Excise · Polri

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

Coverage disagrees

Sources make claims that cannot both be true. CLSTR reports the disagreement; it does not decide who is right.

Timeline

  1. 5 days ago

    [BUSINESS] 19 sources
    Indonesia seizes Rp63 billion in smuggled gold at Soekarno-Hatta Airport

    Indonesian authorities seized 23.79kg of gold worth Rp63 billion at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, involving Chinese and Indonesian suspects. The government is tightening mining and export regulations.

  2. 12 days ago

    [CRIME] 7 sources
    Dubai Customs Seizes 460 g of Raw Gold Hidden Inside Suitcase

    Dubai Customs stopped a smuggling attempt at Dubai Airport, finding 460 g of 24‑carat gold hidden in a suitcase’s rubber frame. The passenger claimed ignorance; officials warned travelers to verify luggage they

Sources

antaranews.com · bandung24jam.republika.co.id · bisnis.liputan6.com · bukkzserc.hu · cari.republika.co.id · cnbcindonesia.com · dinalipi.com · economy.okezone.com · en.antaranews.com · gulf-insider.com · gulfnews.com · indtoday.com · inponews.com · japon.embajada.gov.co · jpnn.com · katadata.co.id · KhaleejTimes.com · lateoriadelcomplotto.com · m.jpnn.com · mediaindonesia.com · newsmeter.in · novagradiska.hr · pemilu2024.harianjogja.com · pozeska-biskupija.hr · rmol.id · siasat.com

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history