Customs And Excise Thwarts Circulation Of 2.73 Million Illegal Cigarettes In Aceh

Photo: Doc. Antara

JAKARTA - A joint team of Langsa Customs and Customs and Excise Lhokseumawe along with Denpom Iskandar Muda thwarted the circulation of 2.73 million illegal cigarettes in Aceh Tamiang Regency.

Head of the Customs Supervision Office of Customs and Excise Type Customs (KPPBC TMP) C Langsa Sulaiman in Banda Aceh, Thursday, May 9, said that apart from confiscating illegal cigarettes, the joint team also arrested two suspected perpetrators.

"The illegal cigarette action was carried out in operations in two separate locations in Aceh Tamiang Regency on Tuesday (7/5). This joint operation also involved Sub Denpom Langsa," said Sulaiman, as reported by Antara.

Sulaiman said the first action was taken in the Liput River, Kejuruan Muda District, Aceh Tamiang Regency. During the action, a truck was stopped.

Before stopping him, the joint team had chased the truck. After being successfully stopped, officers inspected the goods transported by the truck and found cigarettes of various brands totaling 1.74 million sticks in packages without being attached to excise.

"Joint officers arrested two suspected perpetrators in the truck, namely the initials DM (33) and CM (35), residents of Jambi. Both are now being secured at the Langsa Customs Office for further legal proceedings," said Sulaiman.

While taking the second action, said Sulaiman, it was carried out at Fort Anyer, Manyak Payed District, Aceh Tamiang Regency. In that place, the joint team found trucks loaded with cigarettes without being attached to excise stamps of various brands with a total of 990 thousand sticks.

Sulaiman said the value of illegal cigarettes being prosecuted was estimated at more than Rp6.33 billion and an estimated excise value of Rp3.55 billion. Meanwhile, the state losses incurred are estimated at Rp4.53 billion.

"This action is inseparable from the participation of the community in informing the circulation of illegal cigarettes. We invite the public to participate in eradicating the circulation of illegal cigarettes because it is detrimental to the state and the economy," said Sulaiman.