Trade Minister Zulhas Says Illegal Imported Goods Storage Warehouse Can Be Tens Per Province

JAKARTA - Minister of Trade (Mendag) Zulkifli Hasan revealed that information received from the Illegal Import Task Force (Satgas), warehouses for storing illegal imported goods were found in a number of areas.

This was revealed by the Minister of Trade when giving a press statement regarding illegal imported goods that were successfully secured in the warehouse in the Kamal Muara area, North Jakarta, Friday, July 26.

The man who is familiar with Zulhas said that there were even dozens of illegal imported goods in each province in Indonesia.

"This is according to a temporary discussion, this is not just one, one province can be tens," he said during a press conference, at the warehouse in the Kamal Muara area, Penjaringan, North Jakarta, Friday, July 26.

Furthermore, Zulhas said illegal items placed in storage warehouses would later be sold online through the marketplace.

"The sale is also online. We are also investigating this," he said.

Previously, the Task Force for Supervision of Certain Goods Subjected to the Import Commercial Procedure, led by Trade Minister 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, tablets, 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.

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.

Zulhas revealed that the illegal imported goods were imported by foreign nationals (WNA). He said these foreigners rented warehouses and distributed these items online.

Furthermore, Zulhas also admitted that he was confused about how these foreign nationals could import these goods into Indonesia. He said that because these imports are legal, there are no accompanying documents and also do 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.