7.9 Million Illegal Cigarettes Burned, Kudus Customs Destroys Evidence 2021-2022

KUDUS - The Customs Service and Supervision Office (KPPBC) Madya Kudus, Central Java, destroyed 7.9 million illegal cigarettes weighing up to 13.2 tons along with other evidence worth Rp8.1 billion.

"Cigarettes and other evidence that were destroyed were the result of prosecution for the period October 2021 to March 2022 which were designated as state property," said the Head of the Middle-Type KPPBC Kudus, Moh Arif Setijo Nugroho when met after the destruction of illegal cigarettes at the Kudus KPPBC page, quoted from Antara, Tuesday. 26 July.

In addition, he continued, there were 2.9 million pieces of evidence whose cases had permanent legal force during the years 2020-2021.

Of the 7.9 million cigarettes, including 7.92 million machine-made kretek (SKM), 850 hand-rolled kretek (SKT), 10,900 counterfeit excise stamps, three label bags, 12 heaters, five rolls of wrapping paper. cigarette filters, two OPP plastic bags, two 33 liters of drinks containing ethyl alcohol (MMEA).

He revealed that the value of the evidence, amounting to Rp. 8.1 billion, was based on the value of excise duty, VAT on tobacco products, and cigarette taxes that should have been paid.

From the estimated value of the destroyed goods of Rp. 8.1 billion, the potential loss to the state is around Rp. 5.35 billion. The potential losses to the state consist of excise duty, cigarette tax, and Tobacco Products Value Added Tax (PPN HT).

Destruction is carried out by burning some illegal cigarettes in the yard of the Kudus Customs Office, then all goods are destroyed by dumping them in the Sukoharjo Final Disposal Site (TPA), Pati.

In law enforcement in the field of excise, he said, Kudus Customs continues to synergize with local governments and law enforcement officials.

"Preventive and repressive activities are carried out to suppress the circulation of illegal cigarettes. From the preventive side, various activities are carried out starting from socialization, installing billboards, advertising on radio and print media," he said.

He added that market action and market operations, both independently and jointly, were carried out as a form of synergy and support from local governments and law enforcement officials in eradicating illegal cigarettes.