Take Advantage Of The Crowd Of Homecomers Smuggling 105 Used Cellphones, Batam Customs Detains 2 Ship Passengers

A used mobile phone that was secured by Batam Customs and Excise. (ANTARA/HO-Humas Customs)

Batam Customs and Excise officers managed to thwart the smuggling of hundreds of units of used mobile phones of various brands using the Lebaran homecoming using KM Kelud. Two smugglers were also arrested by officers. "Batam Customs And Excise takes action against two passengers on the KM Kelud ship "IR and JT were caught carrying 105 used mobile phones of various brands amid a surge in passenger homecoming flows ahead of the Eid holiday," said Batam Customs Compliance Guidance and Information Service Head M. Rizki Baidillah in Batam, Riau Islands, Antara, Tuesday, April 18. He explained that the smuggling was successfully thwarted after Customs and Excise officers suspected and conducted an examination of one of the cars leading to the south pier of Batu Ampar Harbor, Batam City. After the inspection, the Customs and Excise officer found two Indonesian citizens (WNI), one of whom claimed to be passengers on the KM Kelud ship, but did not pass through the official passenger lane, so an in-depth examination was carried out. "Based on an in-depth examination, hundreds of cellphones were found hidden in plastic bags, backpacks, under the front car seat, and jackets. In addition, other telephones were also hidden in modified pants and clothes and small bags were added. In addition, the person concerned is suspected of falsifying the stamps into the ship," said Rizki. He said the suspect was indicated to have violated the Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 17 of 2006 concerning Amendments to Law Number 10 of 1995 concerning Customs Article 102 letter f and violated Government Regulation Number 41 of 2021 concerning the Implementation of Free Trade Areas and Free Ports, with a minimum imprisonment of 1 year and a maximum imprisonment of 10 years and a minimum fine of IDR 50,000,000 and a maximum of IDR 5,000,000,000. From the catch, Rizki appealed to all prospective ship passengers not to be tempted and careful with the lure of a reward from someone who left a package, including telephones and other electronic goods, because it would have legal consequences.

"This is because at this time our system has been able to check the list of passengers who have registered for IMEI. If it is found that there are repeated crossings and mobile phone income with the same identity, it refers to the Minister of Trade 25 of 2022 concerning Amendments to the Regulation of the Minister of Trade Number 20 of 2021 concerning Import Policy and Regulation, not including the category of passenger personal goods and resulting in the non-serve of IMEI registration," he said.