JAKARTA - The Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) of the Ministry of Finance together with the Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS) of the TNI has succeeded in uncovering the alleged circulation of illegal ethyl alcohol-containing beverages (MMEA) or liquor (miras) using fake tax tape in Bali.
During the operation, officers secured 19,142 bottles or around 14,400.36 liters of illegal MMEA as part of efforts to protect the community, create healthy business competition, and maintain the reputation of the Bali tourism sector.
Meanwhile, the evidence seized consisted of MMEA grades B and C from various brands with a total value of around IDR 12.55 billion and from the action, the state is estimated to have succeeded in saving the potential losses of the recipient of IDR 2.14 billion.
This case was revealed after there was intelligence information regarding the alleged storage and circulation of illegal MMEA in the Denpasar area.
Following up on this information, the Directorate of Enforcement and Investigation of Customs together with the Bali, NTB, and NTT Customs Regional Offices, Denpasar Customs, and BAIS TNI carried out a joint operation on Thursday, July 23.
During the operation, officers stopped a vehicle on Jalan Padma, Legian, Badung, which was known to have just come out of a building on Jalan Laksamana III, Banjar Babakan Sari, East Denpasar, and the results of the inspection found a number of MMEA that were wrapped in a tax tape that was suspected to be fake.
Based on the driver's statement, officers then searched two buildings at the location and found thousands of MMEA bottles of various brands that were also suspected of using fake tax tape, and all the evidence was then secured to the Bali, NTB, and NTT Customs Regional Office for further investigation.
Director General of Customs and Excise, Lieutenant General TNI (Ret.) Djaka Budhi Utama, said that the success of the disclosure of this case was the result of inter-agency synergy in eradicating the illegal circulation of taxable goods.
"This action is the result of strong synergy between Customs, BAIS TNI, and coordination with the National Police and the Prosecutor's Office. Collaborations like this are important to prevent the circulation of illegal taxable goods that have the potential to endanger the community, harm business actors who obey the rules, and reduce state revenue," he said in a statement, Tuesday, July 28.
Djaka added that the supervision of the illegal circulation of MMEA is also aimed at maintaining the quality of the Bali tourism ecosystem as one of Indonesia's main tourist destinations.
"We want to ensure that the public and tourists get products that meet the requirements, while providing certainty for business actors who run their businesses in compliance. Thus, a fair and conducive business climate is created for the legal industry," he said.
Regarding this matter, the case has entered the investigation stage by the Bali, NTB, and NTT Customs Regional Office.
Furthermore, the investigation process was carried out in coordination with the PPNS Korwas of the Bali Police Criminal Investigation Unit and the Bali High Prosecutor's Office, and until now investigators are still continuing to examine a number of witnesses and collect evidence to determine the responsible parties.
The perpetrators are suspected of violating Article 54 and/or Article 56 of Law Number 11 of 1995 concerning Taxes as amended by Law Number 39 of 2007.
The provision regulates the prohibition of trading, storing, possessing, or distributing taxable goods that are not accompanied by a tax tape or are known or suspected to have originated from criminal acts in the field of taxes.
Djaka said that the Customs continued to appeal to the public not to buy, sell, or distribute illegal excise goods and immediately report if they find indications of violations in the tax field.
"Community participation is an important factor in creating healthy trade, protecting consumers, and supporting the sustainability of industries that comply with provisions," he said.
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