Indonesian Customs Probes Undeclared USD 350,000 Cash Brought From Thailand

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Customs and Excise officers at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport intercepted a suspicious passenger through risk-based profiling, uncovering USD 350,000 in undeclared cash carried by a Thai national identified as RR.

The seizure took place on Monday, June 22, at Terminal 2F of the international arrivals hall. Officials said the passenger had neither the required permit nor had he declared the foreign banknotes to customs.

“This passenger had no authorization and failed to report the cash to our officers,” Soekarno-Hatta Customs and Excise Office Head Hengky Tomuan Parlindungan Aritonang said on Friday, June 26, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

The case began when monitoring systems flagged RR’s baggage. X-ray scans revealed dense images consistent with stacks of currency. A subsequent inspection confirmed the passenger was carrying 3,500 notes of USD 100, totaling USD 350,000--equivalent to IDR 6.3 billion.

The cash has been secured at the customs office while further investigation continues into possible financial compliance violations.

Authorities are coordinating with Bank Indonesia and the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) to assess whether the case involves money laundering or other criminal activity.

Hengky noted that RR’s statements have been inconsistent, prompting PPATK to conduct deeper profiling of his financial background.

If found in violation, RR could face cumulative administrative fines under customs and Bank Indonesia regulations, amounting to as much as IDR 600 million. The penalties would be deducted directly from the seized cash and transferred to the state treasury.

Customs officials stressed that strict enforcement against undeclared foreign currency is part of efforts to safeguard rupiah stability and control cross-border cash flows.

They reminded travelers that anyone carrying cash or payment instruments worth at least IDR 100 million into or out of Indonesia must declare it to customs, in line with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws.

“Preventive action and administrative sanctions against undeclared foreign currency are concrete steps to protect Indonesia’s financial sovereignty,” Hengky said, adding that Soekarno-Hatta Customs remains committed to monitoring cross-border financial traffic. ***