Indonesia's National Police's Criminal Investigation Agency has named three individuals as suspects in a money laundering case involving proceeds from illegal gold mining worth Rp25.9 trillion. The suspects are alleged to be involved in collecting and refining gold from unlicensed mining operations. Police have seized billions of rupiah and dozens of kilograms of gold.
Indonesia's National Police Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim Polri) has named TW, DW, and BSW as suspects in the money laundering (TPPU) case from illegal gold mining proceeds. The transaction value of gold sales from illegal mining over the 2019-2025 period reached Rp25.9 trillion, covering the business chain from purchasing raw gold to selling refined gold to purification companies or exporters.
Brigadier General Police Ade Safri Simanjuntak, Director of Special Economic Crimes at Bareskrim Polri, stated the case was uncovered through analysis of suspicious transactions by the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) related to domestic gold trading. "Based on the facts from the investigation to date, the accumulated gold buy-sell transactions suspected to originate from illegal mining during the 2019-2025 period reached Rp 25.9 trillion," Ade Safri said on Friday, March 13, 2026.
Investigators gathered evidence including witness statements, expert testimonies, documents, indicators, and other physical evidence. The case review for naming suspects was held on February 27, 2026. Initial searches were conducted on February 19-20, 2026, at five locations in East Java: two in Nganjuk Regency (one residential house and Toko Mas Semar) and three in Surabaya City (one residential house and two gold refining companies).
During the searches, police seized billions of rupiah in cash and dozens of kilograms of gold. The case highlights a network involved in collecting and refining illegal gold that has operated for years.
