Police Confiscate 410 Bal Thrifting Clothing Smuggled Into South Kalimantan, Its Value Reaches Billions Of Rupiah

Ballpress used clothes or Thrifting confiscated by the West Kalimantan Regional Police (Kalbar) was secured at the West Kalimantan Police Headquarters, Monday (20/1/2025). (ANTARA/HO-Jessica Helena Wuysan)

JAKARTA - The Regional Police (Polda) of West Kalimantan (Kalbar) managed to uncover a case of smuggling used clothes or stealing rupiahs worth of Thrifting involving illegal routes on the Indonesia-Malaysia border.

"Investigations carried out by the Directorate of Special Criminal Investigation (Ditreskrimsus) managed to secure 410 bales of used clothes with the potential state losses reaching billions of rupiah," said Deputy Chief of Police of West Kalimantan, Brigadier General Pol Roma Hutajulu, during a Press Release at the West Kalimantan Police Headquarters, Monday, January 20, confiscated by Antara.

Roma stated that the disclosure of this case was part of the West Kalimantan Police's commitment to support the government's Asta Cita program, especially in eradicating the crime of smuggling.

"This case stems from a public report about the loading and unloading activities of used clothes suspected of originating from Malaysia in Pemangkat District, Sambas Regency. After an investigation, we managed to secure evidence in the form of 410 bales of used clothes from four containers in a number of locations, including Dwikora Port Pontianak," he said.

For the chronology of the disclosure of the case, Roma explained that on Wednesday, January 15, the Ditreskrimsus team received information related to suspicious activities at the Appointment.

The investigation was carried out, and a container truck with police number KB 8492 AW carrying a container was successfully stopped on Jalan Major Ahyang, Sungai Raya District, Kubu Raya. After being examined, 108 bales of used clothes were found which were suspected to be from Malaysia.

The officers then developed an investigation into the Port of Dwikora Pontianak, where three other containers were found containing 302 bales of used clothing. The total evidence reached 410 bales, consisting of 320 large bales weighing 100 kg per bal and 90 small bal weighing 50 kg per bal.

"These items are known to be sent to Makassar, South Sulawesi, and Surabaya, East Java. The mode used by the perpetrators is to import used clothes from Malaysia through illegal routes at the Sambas border," he said.

The investigation named a main suspect, DY alias RN (60), a resident of North Singkawang. DY is known to have arranged the purchase of used clothes from Malaysia and arranged the delivery via illegal routes in Aruk District, Sambas. The used clothes were then loaded into a container to be sent to their final destination.

DY alias RN was named a suspect for violating Article 112 paragraph (2) of Law Number 7 of 2014 concerning Trade. The suspect faces a maximum prison sentence of five years and a fine of up to IDR 5 billion.

"The smuggling of used clothing is not only detrimental to the state in terms of revenue, but also has a negative impact on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). This smuggling creates unhealthy competition, especially for the local textile industry which is one of the backbones of the country's economy," said Roma.