Soetta Customs and Excise Investigate the Motive of a Thai Citizen to Bring 350 Thousand US Dollars to Indonesia

TANGERANG - The Soekarno-Hatta Customs and Excise Service Office (Soetta), Tangerang, Banten, is investigating the motives of a man with the initials RR, a Thai citizen, who brought foreign currency (UKA) amounting to 350 thousand US dollars (USD) or equivalent to Rp6.3 billion to Indonesia.

This is being tried, after his party carried out a crackdown on violations of carrying foreign banknotes (UKA) at Terminal 2F of the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Monday (22/06).

"So, this initial RR passenger no longer has a permit, he also did not report to the Customs and Excise officers, like that," said Head of the Soekarno-Hatta Customs Office, Hengky Tomuan Parlindungan Aritonang in Tangerang, Friday.

He said that this action was initiated from the results of tracking from the risk-based profiling system for international passengers.

Then, from the results, the officers paid attention to the luggage belonging to a passenger who arrived from Thailand. Through X-ray scanning, officers detected a suspicious density image leading to the carrying of a pile of cash.

After the persuasive action was carried out, continued Hengky, a physical examination in a special room was also carried out until it was proven that the passenger was carrying cash in the form of 3,500 pieces of USD 100, with a total value of 350,000 USD or equivalent to Rp. 6.3 billion.

"Currently, the goods resulting from the enforcement have been secured at the Soekarno-Hatta Customs Office and the perpetrators are undergoing further customs research to delve into compliance with related corporate financial administration," he said.

In this case, Soetta Customs immediately coordinated with representatives from Bank Indonesia and the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) to conduct in-depth analysis to find out about suspected criminal acts or other violations.

"Because the information of this foreign national is always changing, what we do is report to PPATK. Later, PPATK will conduct an in-depth investigation of the person's profile, the person's finances, and whether there is a connection with crimes, such as that," he explained.

He said that if the results of the research and investigation in this case were not reported or did not have a permit, then his party would be charged in accordance with Article 15A paragraph (7) with a fine imposed cumulatively (layered).

In addition, the perpetrator was fined by the customs as well as the Bank Indonesia provision, so that the total maximum combined administrative fine sanctions amounted to IDR 600,000,000, which will be deducted directly from the goods resulting from the cash seizure to be deposited into the State Treasury.

"The action of deterrence and imposition of administrative sanctions against the carrying of Foreign Currency Notes (UKA) without declaration or permission is a real step in maintaining the stability of the Rupiah value and controlling the flow of cash in and out of Indonesia," he explained.

He also added that Soekarno-Hatta Customs is currently committed to maintaining the financial sovereignty of the country through strict supervision of cross-border financial traffic (cross-border cash carrying).

Then, his party also reminded the public or international travelers to always comply with the applicable regulations in order to maintain the stability of the national economy. In accordance with the obligation of cross-border reporting based on the TPPU Law & TPPT Law or Article 34 of Law No. 8 of 2010 (TPPU).

By, mandating that every person who carries cash or other payment instruments of at least IDR 100,000,000 into or out of the Indonesian customs area is obliged to notify the Directorate General of Customs and Excise, of which the data must be forwarded to the PPATK to prevent money laundering.

"Article 21 of Law No. 9 of 2013 (TPPT): Give full authority to the Customs and Excise Officer to carry out surveillance in the form of research and inspection of cash carriers and/or other payment instruments listed in the list of suspected terrorists and terrorist organizations," he said as quoted by Antara.