BADUNG, DEWATA.NEWS – Customs officers at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali detained a 32-year-old Chinese national identified by the initials ZG on Sunday (September 6) after finding 14 gold bars weighing a combined 10.4 kilograms. The gold, valued at approximately IDR 26 billion, was allegedly concealed on the passenger’s body.
ZG was stopped at the international departure terminal while preparing to board a flight from Bali to Hong Kong. The case was disclosed by the Bali, West Nusa Tenggara and East Nusa Tenggara Regional Office of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) on Wednesday (September 9).
Ngurah Rai Customs and Excise Office Chief Wawan Dharmawan said the investigation began with intelligence information about the passenger’s planned departure.
Customs officers coordinated with Aviation Security (Avsec), immigration officials and other personnel at the boarding gate while monitoring the passenger. During the boarding process, officers reportedly noticed suspicious behavior and conducted a further inspection.
“During the boarding process, our officers noticed suspicious behavior by ZG. An inspection was conducted and officers found several brown-colored packages suspected of containing precious metals. The packages had been attached to the passenger’s body using body strapping,” Wawan said.
The gold was concealed using the body-strapping method, in which items are attached directly to parts of the body to make them less visible during security checks.
Customs officials subsequently tested the seized material through the Surabaya Large Laboratory for Customs and Excise (BLBC), Ngurah Rai Service Unit. Based on the Certificate of Testing Results and Goods Identification (SHPIB) Number SHPIB-86/BLBC.3.02/2026 dated September 6, 2026, the material was identified as gold (Au) with a purity level of more than 99 percent.
Following the discovery, Ngurah Rai Customs coordinated with law enforcement authorities for further examination and legal proceedings.
ZG is being investigated under Article 102A(a) of Law No. 17 of 2006 concerning amendments to the Customs Law, in conjunction with Article 20 of the Criminal Code and Article II Paragraph (8) of Appendix I Number 46 of Law No. 1 of 2026 on Criminal Law Adjustments. The provisions carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of IDR 5 billion.
Wawan said the passenger told investigators that the gold had been purchased domestically for IDR 20 billion. Immigration information indicated that ZG was traveling for business, although Wawan said the passenger did not acknowledge having employment and described the trip as tourism.
The investigation is being handled by the Ngurah Rai Customs and Excise Office.
Authorities estimated that the enforcement action prevented potential state losses of approximately IDR 3.9 billion.
Iyan Rubiyanto, Head of the Bali, West Nusa Tenggara and East Nusa Tenggara Regional Office of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise, said the case highlighted the importance of monitoring gold exports from Indonesia.
“Export controls on gold are very important to ensure that the commodity is traded in accordance with regulations and provides optimal benefits for the national economy,” Iyan said.
The government has established Minister of Finance Regulation (PMK) No. 80 of 2025, which took effect on November 17, 2025, introducing export duties on gold commodities. The regulation sets export duty rates according to the type and level of gold processing, with the policy intended to maintain domestic gold availability, support price stability and encourage greater value-added processing within Indonesia.
Iyan said Customs would continue strengthening supervision and law enforcement against customs violations while educating the public about export requirements.