Aceh Customs Thwarts The Smuggling Of 45 Tons Of Bawang From Thailand

Fishing boats carry smuggled onions from Thailand in the waters of North Aceh. (doc. Public Relations DJBC Aceh).

The joint Customs and Excise team thwarted the smuggling of 45 tons of shallots and 28 sacks of used clothing from Thailand which were transported by fishing boat in Jambo Aye Waters, North Aceh Regency.

Head of the Customs and Excise Facility Division of the Regional Office of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise of Aceh Province, Leni Rahmasari, in Banda Aceh, on Saturday, February 15, 2025, said that apart from thwarting smuggling, the team also arrested five crew members. The five had the initials MSF (nD, ZK, HS, SB, and MN.

"Currently, the five crew members are secured for further inspection. A total of 45 tons below red and 28 sacks of used clothing were secured at the Banda Aceh Customs Office, while the ship was deposited at Krueng Geukueh Harbor, Lhokseumawe," he said.

Leni Rahmasari said the smuggling action was a collaboration between the Regional Office team of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise of Aceh, the Tanjung Balai Karimun Type A Customs and Excise Facilities Base, Lhokseumawe Customs, Langsa Customs, and the BC 30001 Marine Patrol Task Force.

The disclosure of the smuggling of shallots and used clothes, he said, began with information received on February 11, 2025 that a ship from Thailand was carrying a number of goods to Aceh.

From this information, the BC 30001 Marine Patrol Task Force has increased surveillance and detected suspicious fishing boats in Jambo Aye waters, North Aceh Regency, since February 12, 2025. Then, the team chased a fishing boat with the name KM RB which weighs 43 gross tons.

"After chasing less than half an hour, the fishing boat can be stopped. Then, officers inspected the ship and found 1,768 sacks containing shallots weighing up to 45 tons, as well as 28 sacks of used clothes. These items were transported without any in the manifest," said Leni Rahmasari.

He said the five perpetrators brought the imported goods allegedly violated Article 7A Paragraph (2) and Article 102 Letter a of Law Number 10 of 1995 as amended into Law Number 17 of 2006 concerning Customs.

Leni Rahmasari said that the illegal import action was a commitment of the Customs and Excise staff to smuggle goods from abroad and protect the public from the circulation of illegal goods.

"We continue to increase the supervision of the Aceh waters to prevent the entry of illegal goods that can harm the state and society."

"This action confirms the important role of Customs and Excise in securing national borders and ensuring compliance with regulations," said Leni Rahmasari.