Trade Minister Zulhas: Illegal Imported Goods Worth IDR 40 Billion Sent By Foreigners

JAKARTA - Minister of Trade (Mendag) Zulkifli Hasan revealed illegal imported goods worth Rp40 billion which were found by the Illegal Import Task Force sent by foreign nationals (WNA).

The man who is familiarly called Zulhas said illegal imported goods were found in a rental warehouse located in the Kamal Muara area, Penjaringan, North Jakarta. He said the findings were suspected to be sold online through the marketplace.

"This is indeed a place for renting goods. So, the warehouse is still a place for renting goods. Now, once again the results of a temporary investigation," he said during a press conference, in Kamal Muara, Penjaringan, North Jakarta, Friday, July 26.

"It turns out that this importer is a foreigner, rents a warehouse, asks for his goods to be marketed, he pays. Then they are sold online," he continued.

Zulhas also admitted that he was confused about how these foreign nationals could import these goods in Indonesia. He said that because these imports were legal, there were no accompanying documents and also did not meet the certification of the Indonesian National Standard (SNI).

"Those who import foreigners come here. Don't use SNI, don't use all kinds of things. I'm also confused about how to get here," he said.

Therefore, Zulhas regretted this incident, where foreigners can take import actions to sell products in Indonesia freely. But unfortunately, Zulhas did not want to reveal the identity of the importer because he was still in the investigation stage.

"Imagine, we have been injected by foreign nationals who sell in our place, it is far like that," he said.

According to Zulhas, this action will disrupt domestic industries. In addition, it also reduces state revenue.

If that's the case, the domestic industry will fall out. Not paying taxes, selling online, closing shops, the state can reduce the income tax a lot, our domestic industry can fall out," he said.

Previously, it was reported that the Task Force for Supervision of Certain Goods Subjected to the Import Commercial Administration, led by the Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan, confiscated illegal imported goods worth Rp40 billion in the Kamal Muara area, Penjaringan, North Jakarta.

The confiscated items consisted of electronics such as slow cooker and rice cooker mini brand soseki, reflection massage tools, cellphones, tabs, spray guns to electronic cigarettes or Relx brand pods. There are also children's toys and make clothes such as jackets, sports pants, to raincoats.

This is the first field work carried out by the illegal import task force after it was officially formed on Friday, July 19.

"This is the result of the Task Force's first work. So this is not the Ministry of Trade, but the Task Force. The task force for examining products that we don't suspect are illegal. Well, today is the result of an interim investigation. We found the items that we saw earlier. It's worth more than Rp. 40 billion," he said during a press conference in Kamal Muara, Penjaringan, North Jakarta, Friday, July 26.

The details, Rp2.7 billion from cellphones and tablets. Then, Rp20 billion in finished and ready-to-wear clothes. Then, Rp12.3 billion in electronics, and Rp5 billion in children's toys.