inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. The Directorate of Specific Crimes of the Indonesian National Police (INP)'s Criminal Investigation Agency has uncovered an alleged illegal gold smuggling syndicate to Hong Kong using an unusual method.

The processed gold was allegedly affixed to the body before being transported abroad, a practice known as body strapping.

The Director of Specific Crimes at the INP's Criminal Investigation Agency, Brigadier General Mohammad Irhamni, stated that investigators arrested a suspect with the initials R on Tuesday (8/25/2026).

R was arrested upon arrival from Japan at Soekarno-Hatta Airport.

"Investigators arrested suspect R upon his arrival from Japan at Soekarno-Hatta Airport," Irhamni said in a statement in Jakarta (8/26/2026).

From the investigation, R then identified a house in the Penjaringan area, North Jakarta, suspected of being the location of the illegal gold transactions.

Investigators moved swiftly, searching the house on Tuesday evening (8/25/2026).

The search revealed the location was suspected of being the headquarters of a Chinese national with the initials GCZ.

Irhamni stated that GCZ is suspected of acting as a host and organizing the smuggling of illegal gold to Hong Kong.

"GCZ is a Chinese national who hosts and smuggles gold to Hong Kong," he said.

In addition to being a transaction location, the house is also suspected of being used as a refining and processing location for the illegal gold before being shipped to Hong Kong.

To uncover these activities, investigators confiscated several pieces of equipment suspected of being used in the gold refining and processing process.

In addition to the equipment, police also seized cash, transaction documents, and several agreements. These items will provide important clues to further dismantle the syndicate's network and cash flow.

"Based on these transaction documents, we will try to coordinate with the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) to trace their financial transactions and the storage of their assets," Irhamni said.

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