Jakarta. Police at Soekarno–Hatta International Airport have uncovered a cargo theft syndicate accused of repeatedly stealing imported and exported goods from the airport’s cargo area over the past two years.

Authorities arrested three suspects allegedly linked to the group, which police dubbed “cargo rats,” after surveillance cameras captured parts of their operations.

According to investigators, the syndicate had carried out around 10 thefts involving cargo shipments between 2024 and 2026 before being dismantled.

Arif Budiman, head of Unit 6 of the airport police’s criminal investigation division, said the case came to light after an export company reported missing goods during a shipment to China.

“We received a report from an export company sending bags to China. When the shipment arrived, the company found the number of items received did not match the export data recorded here,” Arif said on Wednesday.

Police later discovered that one of the suspects, identified only by the initial I, was a cargo employee who allegedly manipulated shipments before they passed through X-ray screening.

“The suspect arranged the goods before the export X-ray process. The items were then taken back out and stolen together with two accomplices identified as R and A at another location,” Arif said.

Police estimate total losses from the theft ring at around Rp 1 billion ($57,000). Investigators are also reviewing several previous reports believed to be connected to the same network.

“From our investigation, it turns out this syndicate had been operating from 2024 to 2026, and some earlier reports we handled are believed to be related,” Arif added.

The three suspects are currently being detained and charged under Indonesia’s Criminal Code for organized theft carried out jointly or in conspiracy. If convicted, they face up to nine years in prison.

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