Hundreds Of Thousands Of Illegal Cigarettes Confiscated In Makassar, Potential State Loss Of IDR 397 Million

Illustration of illegal cigarettes (ANTARA)

The Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) of Southern Sulawesi (Sulbagsel) together with the South Sulawesi Regional Police thwarted the circulation of illegal cigarettes by confiscating a total of 414,000 cigarettes with fake excise.

"The total estimated value of goods resulting from this action reached Rp. 609.4 million with a potential loss of state revenue of more than Rp. 397.1 million," said Head of the Makassar Customs Office, Ade Irawan, quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, August 14.

Hundreds of illegal excisable goods (BKC) that were secured consisted of 384,000 mechanical Kretek Cigarettes (SKM) brand Rocker Bold attached to fake excise stamps and 26,400 SKM stems of the Smith Bold brand without being attached to excise stamps or plain.

The illegal action started with the team's suspicion of a truck containing illegal cigarette cargo when routine surveillance patrols were carried out on August 5, 2025 at Soekarno Hatta Port, Makassar.

On suspicion, the joint team then followed the truck to the demolition site at one of the logistics warehouses in Makassar City, then checked until hundreds of packs of cigarettes were found with fake excise.

All goods resulting from the prosecution (BHP) were taken to the Makassar Customs Office for further inspection, including inspection of the driver and owner of the goods.

Perpetrators of violations are charged with Article 54 of Law No. 39 of 2007 concerning Excise with a minimum imprisonment of 1 year and a maximum of 5 years, as well as a fine of at least two times and a maximum of 10 times the excise value that should be paid.

"We will continue to carry out intensive supervision to suppress the circulation of illegal cigarettes, not only harming the country and endangering public health, but also threatening the industry that has been legal (official)," he said.

Illegal cigarettes produced, he said, are often without adequate health standards, so there is a high risk for consumers who consume it, let alone overuse it.

"We urge the public to be vigilant and report if they find suspicious cigarette products, because the community's contribution is very important in efforts to eradicate the circulation of illegal cigarettes," he said.

This operation is expected to be an example for other regions to continue to increase supervision in order to suppress the circulation of illegal goods, so that state revenues from the excise sector can be optimal in order to support national development.