Strict Action! Customs And Excise Secures Containers Containing Illegal Garments

The Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) succeeded in thwarting efforts to circulate illegal garment products through two separate enforcement operations.

One of these actions targeted three containers arriving at Sunda Kelapa Port, Jakarta on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, and two trucks loaded with ballistics on the Palembang 'Lampung toll road on Wednesday, December 3, 2025.

Director General of Customs and Excise Djaka Budhi Utama, emphasized that this operation is proof of his party's commitment to protecting the public and domestic industry from illegal trade practices.

"We will not provide space for the entry of goods that harm the country and kill local industries," he said at a press conference, Thursday, December 11.

He explained that his party managed to thwart the shipment of 3 containers, with 2 containers each containing illegal garment products and 1 container containing machines, which were transported by KM Indah Costa which was known to have arrived from Kijang Harbor, Riau Islands and taken action at Sunda Kelapa Port, Jakarta on Wednesday, December 10, 2025.

During the inspection of the manifest, it was discovered that KM Indah Costa was carrying 44 containers, with 13 of them loaded with goods and from these containers, officers found 3 containers with notifications of mixed goods and prayer mats suspected or indicated to contain illegal goods.

Djaka explained that following up on this, officers immediately monitored the demolition of 2 containers in the recipient's warehouse in the Muara Karang area, while 1 other container was still at Sunda Kelapa Port.

He added that based on the results of the supervision, it showed that the container did not load the goods according to the notification, but 2 containers containing finished clothes which were strongly suspected to be illegal ex-imports, while another container loaded with engines.

"On these findings, officers immediately secured the container to the Customs Headquarters for further investigation," he explained.

Djaka said that container smuggling is one of the big challenges in customs supervision.

"We are tightening surveillance to sea transportation modes because the perpetrators continue to look for loopholes. There is no compromise on illegal imports, let alone those who try to manipulate documents and notification of goods," he said.

In addition, he added that on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, Customs and Excise also took action against two trucks loaded with garment loaded in the form of ballistics at KM 116 of the Palembang-Lampung toll road.

Djaka said that the prosecution began with information from the public received by the Customs and Excise Directorate of Enforcement and Investigation (P2) regarding the movement of trucks carrying ballpress allegedly illegal clothes from Jambi to Jakarta.

"The information was immediately followed up by the Customs and Excise P2 Team which also received support from the TNI BAIS personnel and coordinated with the West Sumatra Customs Regional Office (Sumbadbar)," he explained.

He explained that during the monitoring process, officers found two trucks, each with police numbers BM 8746 AU and BM 8476 AU stopping at the KM 116 rest area.

Djaka added that from the results of the initial inspection, it showed that the two trucks were transporting clothes, so only various were packaged in the form of a brand ballpress with the label of the country of origin such as made in China and made in Bangladesh.

He emphasized that this mode has occurred repeatedly, especially by utilizing the land route across Sumatra.

"Illegal trade like this is detrimental to the state and has the potential to create unhealthy competition in the garment business sector. Enforcement is the key to cutting off its movement," he continued.

Djaka explained that in the statement given, the two drivers who transported the prohibited goods admitted that they only carried out orders to carry trucks from Suban, Jambi, to Jakarta.

In addition, he said that based on the information on the travel document brought by the driver, it was found that the goods came from Medan.

"Both of them received trucks in full load and accompanied by travel documents. As a follow-up, now both vehicles have been taken to the Customs Headquarters for further research," he explained.