Customs and Excise Seal of Foreign Tourist Ships in Jakarta Bay

JAKARTA - The Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) together with the Directorate General of Taxes (DJP) of the Ministry of Finance sealed a number of foreign tourist boats suspected of violating the provisions of the import duty and tax exemption facility.

This action was taken after officers found the boats during a surveillance patrol in the Jakarta Bay area, North Jakarta, on Monday, March 30, 2026.

Head of Enforcement Section II of the DKI Jakarta Regional Office of the Indonesian Customs and Excise Service, Siswo Kristyanto, explained that this activity was a follow-up to the direction of the Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa to optimize state revenue potential.

"We are conducting this activity to inspect foreign tourist boats in Jakarta Bay," Siswo said in a statement, Tuesday, March 31.

During the patrol, officers found about 4 to 5 foreign tourist boats that were suspected of not meeting the vessel declaration provisions and were placed on a private island, then temporarily sealed.

"We are sealing or temporarily sealing foreign tourist boats that we suspect are in violation. A total of 4-5 boats were sealed in Jakarta Bay," he said.

According to Siswo, the ships actually obtained the facility to exempt import duties and taxes because they were used for recreational activities.

However, from the results of the findings in the field, there are indications of abuse, such as being rented out for business purposes or even transferring ownership to parties within the country.

"We suspect that there are some who abuse the facility (vessel declaration), namely by renting it or have been transferred (sold) to people in Indonesia," he explained.

Siswo said that currently, DJBC and DJP are still conducting in-depth research to calculate the potential state losses due to the violation, and by law, each ship can be subject to an import duty of 5 percent, 10 percent income tax, 11 percent VAT, and PPnBM up to around 75 percent.

"The losses are still in the process of research, but in terms of state revenue, one ship is subject to a 5 percent import duty, 10 percent income tax, 11 percent VAT, and PPnBM of around 75 percent per one unit of ship," he said.

Meanwhile, the Representative of the North Jakarta Directorate General of Taxes, Atma Vektor Mercury, added that his party was still conducting a study to determine the type of sanctions to be imposed, both administrative and criminal, according to the results of further examination.

"For sanctions, we first review. If it is an administrative witness, an examination will be carried out. But if it is a crime, then we will direct the interests of the initial evidence," he concluded.

Previously, the Jakarta Customs also inspected 82 private yachts or yachts that were in the waters and docked at the Batavia Marina pier two weeks ago.

Head of the Jakarta Customs Regional Office (Kakanwil), Hendri Darnadi, emphasized that the inspection is part of an effort to optimize state revenue from the circulation of luxury goods, eradicate the underground economy, and uphold fiscal equity for citizens.

"The lower people, MSMEs, even those who buy motorcycles for their work, such as online taxis, still pay taxes and taxes, fulfill their obligations from the motorcycles they buy. The time they buy high value goods and luxury goods does not pay according to their obligations," he said.

His party will also ensure whether the owner has fulfilled the formal permission and customs obligations for the ships.