TNI AL Claims To Have Failed To Smuggle 50 Tons Of Tin Sand To Malaysia

Director General of Customs and Excise Djaka Budhi Utama (left and right). (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Navy (AL) claims to have thwarted the smuggling of tin sand which will be sent to Malaysia with a total of 50 tons. The estimated value is IDR 15.49 billion.

The Commander of the Fleet Command (Pangkoarmada), Vice Admiral TNI Denih Hendrata said the prosecution of the smuggling efforts was carried out in the Bangka Belitung area.

Furthermore, Denih said that the efforts to smuggle lead sand were carried out through the rat port in the Bangka Belitung area.

"Starting from public information regarding the activity of sending illegal tin sand from Babel to Malaysia using a ship from a rat port in Babel. The total tin sand that was successfully secured weighed 50 tons with an economic value of approximately Rp. 15.49 billion," said Denih at Tanjung Priok Port, Jakarta, written Friday, August 15.

Denih said this action was carried out three times by the Bangka Belitung Indonesian Navy Field (Lanal). First, on May 30, 2025, with a tin sand load of around 41 tons, which is equivalent to Rp. 12.7 billion.

Then, on July 27, 2025, with a cargo of around 5 tons worth Rp1.55 billion. And, on August 11, 2025 with a cargo of around 4 tons with a value of Rp1.24 billion," he said.

Meanwhile, Lanal Bangka Belitung revealed that he would transfer the tin sand smuggling case to the Civil Servant Investigators (PPNS) of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM).

Previously, the Directorate General of Customs and Cuka reported nationally, until July 2025 his party had taken action as much as 14,657 with a value of goods reaching Rp4.3 trillion.

The Director General of Customs and Excise, Lt. Gen. TNI (Ret.) Djaka Budhi Utama said that of the number of prosecutions, 252 cases occurred at sea through the Sriwijaya Net Operation and Wallacea Net.

"For the implementation of the Sriwijaya Net Operation and Wallacea Net itself, starting from May 1 to July 7, 2025, Customs and Excise deployed 43 patrol boats consisting of 28 meters of fast patrol boats (FPB), 38 meters of FPB, and 15 speedboats, and involved 816 personnel in the field," he said in his statement, quoted Wednesday, July 31.

From these operations, there were a total of 16 affirmations in the western and eastern regions of various illegal commodities, such as narcotics, tin sand, illegal imported cigarettes, horticultural products, used clothes, air rifles, and basic commodities.

Djaka said that there were three major actions in the operation, namely the prosecution of 2 tons of crystal methamphetamine in the waters of the Riau Islands against the MV Sea Dragon Tarawa, the results of the collaboration between Customs and Excise, BNN, Navy, and Police.

Then, the prosecution of 49.9 tons of tin sand in the waters of Pengibu Island which was transported by KM Budi to be exported to Malaysia illegally, as well as the prosecution of 51.2 million illegal cigarettes (5,120 cartons) resulting from the synergy of case handling by Customs and Navy in Riau waters against KM Harapan Indah 99.

Meanwhile, data on goods resulting from prosecution from the Customs Integrated Operation in the western region, namely in East Sumatra waters, which were exposed, namely three cases of tin sand smuggling as many as 2,696 sacks weighing 95.25 tons which were transported using KM Budi, KM Sunarti Indah II, KM Airyan 8.

Meanwhile, the arrests took place on May 10 and 13, 2025, in the waters of Pengibu Island, Numbing Island, and Tanjung Bayung and are currently being investigated by the Riau Islands Special Customs Office.