Market Operations In Banda Aceh, Tens Of Thousands Of Illegal Cigarettes Confiscated

Customs officers checked illegal cigarettes in Banda Aceh, Friday (26/9/2025). BETWEEN/HO-Humas Aceh Customs

BANDA ACEH - A total of 34,300 illegal cigarettes in market operations in Banda Aceh City and Aceh Besar District in the last two weeks. This confiscation was carried out by the Regional Office Team of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise Aceh.

Head of the Customs and Excise Facilities Division of the Regional Office of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise Aceh Leni Rahmasari in Banda Aceh, Saturday, said the market operation was to protect the public from the dangers of illegal cigarette trafficking.

"There are 34,300 illegal cigarettes seized in market operations in a number of places in Banda Aceh City and Aceh Besar District in the last two weeks. Enforcement of these illegal cigarettes is to protect the public from the negative impact of illegal goods," he said, quoted from ANTARA, Saturday, September 27.

Leni Rahmasari said the operation to take action against illegal cigarettes involved the Civil Service Police Unit and Wilayatul Hisbah (Satpol PP and WH) Aceh Province.

The market operation took place on 18-19 September 2025 with 22,900 illegal cigarettes seized. Then, the operation took place from 24-26 September 2025 to confiscate 11,400 illegal cigarettes.

"The shop was confiscated because it was not attached to excise duty. The operation responded to reports because there were still illegal cigarette trafficking in the community. The operation was to suppress the circulation of illegal cigarettes," he said.

Leni Rahmasari emphasized that the circulation of illegal cigarettes violates Law Number 39 of 2007 concerning excise duty. The characteristics of illegal cigarettes are not attached to excise duty, fake band excise duty is attached, used excise stamps, or excise stamps are not in accordance with their designation or in other forms.

The Head of Customs and Excise Facilities at the Regional Office of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise in Aceh said the market operation was a form of customs seriousness in fighting the circulation of illegal cigarettes.

The circulation of illegal cigarettes is detrimental to the state. Illegal cigarettes are cigarettes that do not pay excise or taxes to the state. For those who smoke illegal cigarettes, it is the same as using state prohibited goods, said Leni Rahmasari.

He said that traders who sell illegal cigarettes mean buying prohibited goods from the state. And this is an element of violation of punishment with a criminal threat in accordance with the provisions of the law on excise.

"We urge traders not to trade illegal cigarettes. We also invite people not to buy cigarettes without excise and report if they know of illegal cigarette circulation or other illegal goods," said Leni Rahmasari.