Indonesia Boosts Airport Baggage Checks After Gold Smuggling Cases

Indonesia's Customs and Excise Directorate General announced stricter oversight of passenger baggage on international routes after two gold smuggling incidents at Lombok Airport in West Nusa Tenggara. In the first case, officers seized four gold bars totaling roughly five kilograms, valued at around Rp12.4 billion, and detained the suspect. The second incident involved gold bracelets weighing less than three hundred grams, worth about Rp732 million, recovered from a Chinese passenger's backpack.

Regional customs head Sunaryo said the tightened checks are intended to safeguard the nation's gold supply, stabilize prices, and support downstream programs. He emphasized the need for stronger coordination to protect lawful trade and national economic interests. The actions reflect a broader effort to curb illicit commodity flows through Indonesia's international entry points.