Does so: Gold from China could be counterfeit. Gold-plated tungsten coins are very difficult to determine if counterfeit.
Your response is factually correct - but entirely irrelevant to my original observation / (rhetorical) question (which you quoted).
Why should merely possessing a certain quantity of one metal warrant an arrest, but possessing the same quantity of another metal (e.g., a base metal) warrant no arrest?
It is not illegal to possess gold. These people weren't even trying to sell the gold (i.e., enter it into circulation).
Consider, if you will, a case involving not gold but a painting "hidden" (or just lying) under a car seat. According to your logic, "the painting could be from China. The painting could be counterfeit. The painting could be stolen Nazi loot. The painting..."
See what I mean?
The police are not allowed to begin harassing people simply because it can't be excluded, in advance, that some possible crime might have been committed or might be in planning.
Regards,
“The police are not allowed to begin harassing people simply because it can’t be excluded, in advance, that some possible crime might have been committed or might be in planning.”
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SOME counterfeit gold can be easily checked for authenticity.
Counterfeiting is within the purview of the US Secret Service.
Impounding that gold-colored “substance” in the presence of supporting circumstance would be good police work. Laboratory examination would lead a detective to a determination of guilt or innocence.
(”You can beat the charge, but you can’t beat the ride”).