Soekarno-Hatta Airport Security Officers Foil Suspected Smuggling Attempt

JAKARTA, Jakartaweekly.com—Aviation Security (Avsec) officers at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport foiled a suspected attempt to smuggle illegal goods through the Staff Security Check Point (SSCP) at the International Loading Dock of Terminal 3 on Aug. 11, 2026.

Head of the Region I Soekarno-Hatta Airport Authority Office Putu Eka Cahyadhi said aviation security measures apply not only to passengers but also to all airport personnel with access to restricted security areas.

“Aviation security cannot focus solely on passengers. Everyone with access to airport areas, including personnel working within them, must be subject to monitoring and screening in accordance with applicable regulations,” Putu said in Jakarta on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026.

According to Putu, all personnel with access to restricted security areas are required to comply with aviation security regulations and undergo screening in accordance with established procedures.

The suspected smuggling attempt was uncovered when Avsec officers conducted an X-ray screening at the SSCP at the International Loading Dock of Terminal 3. Officers detected an item with suspicious characteristics that the person carrying it identified as a power bank.

The officers then conducted a secondary screening and manual inspection. The inspection revealed that the item was illegal.

Avsec officers subsequently coordinated with the relevant authorities to investigate the finding and identify the person suspected of receiving the item. The follow-up investigation led to the suspected recipient being apprehended in the boarding gate area along with the evidence.

The Ministry of Transportation, Putu said, will also conduct a further investigation into aviation security aspects and the suspected misuse of airport access passes in connection with the case.

Putu said efforts to strengthen aviation security monitoring are being carried out through cooperation among the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the Region I Soekarno-Hatta Airport Authority Office, the airport operator, airlines, and other relevant stakeholders.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation, he said, also appreciated the vigilance of Avsec officers in detecting and foiling the suspected smuggling attempt.

“If any potential violation of the law is detected, follow-up action will be carried out in collaboration and coordination with the authorized authorities,” he said.

He added that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation would continue to conduct monitoring, evaluation, and further assessment of aviation security measures to ensure that procedures are implemented effectively and to prevent the potential misuse of airport access.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation did not disclose details of the illegal goods in question.