Customs Together with BAIS TNI Seized Illegal Cigarettes Worth Rp399.2 Billion in Pekanbaru

JAKARTA - Riau Customs together with the Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS) of the TNI seized 160 million illegal cigarettes without tax tape worth hundreds of billions of rupiah in a storage warehouse in Pekanbaru.

Director General of Customs Djaka Budi Utama said that this action was the result of synergy between supervisors and intelligence analysis of central and regional customs which was strengthened by public information.

Furthermore, it was followed up through an integrated intelligence operation for more than four months through cross-unit and agency coordination.

"If you look at this warehouse, it has been a long time and this activity is not instantaneous. It is proven that we have been spying for four months and yesterday (January 6) the plan for action was decided," said Djaka Budi Utama in a press conference at the Avian Warehouse, Pekanbaru, quoted by Antara.

At the location of the warehouse, 16 thousand cartons of illegal cigarettes were shown, whose value based on a provisional calculation reached Rp. 399.2 billion. Meanwhile, the state's loss from the tax sector is estimated at Rp. 213.76 billion, but this amount can only be obtained after a calculation is made.

The Director General said that the illegal cigarettes were indicated to be imported through the East Coast of Sumatra Island and were being stored in Pekanbaru. Furthermore, it is suspected that it will be distributed to all circulation areas in Indonesia.

"This could be distributed to around Riau, North Sumatra to Java Island because we have also carried out prevention at the Lampung border which is the Java-Sumatra traffic route. It was also in Merak Port," he said.

In addition to securing evidence, the joint team also secured the parties concerned for further examination in accordance with the provisions of the law.

He said there were three people suspected of being responsible, but they were still being investigated to reveal the owner of the warehouse.

"For the time being, we are still investigating the warehouse guard. The status is not a suspect, we just ask for information from the existing evidence and initial interrogation," he said.

Djaka said that the crackdown on illegal cigarettes was a tangible manifestation of the state's presence in enforcing the law in the field of taxes while protecting the public's interests.

"This is the commitment of the Customs in maintaining state revenues, creating a healthy business climate, and protecting the public from the circulation of illegal taxable goods," he said.