Customs And Excise Failed IDR 10.4 Billion Of Alcohol Smuggling In Bintan Waters

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TANJUNGPINANG - A Customs and Excise maritime patrol operation titled Operation Sriwijaya Net 2022 thwarted the smuggling of drinks containing ethyl alcohol (MMEA) with a value of goods reaching IDR 10.4 billion in the waters of Bintan Island, Riau Islands (Kepri).

The MMEA was transported by the KM Rezeki Baru ship, which is thought to have come from Singapore and is expected to be smuggled to the east coast of Sumatra, Friday (25/3).

"From the results of the enumeration by officers, the value of the confiscated goods reached IDR 10.4 billion, and has the potential to harm the state of up to IDR 21.5 billion, which consists of levies on import duties, excise, Value Added Tax (PPN), and Article Income Tax (PPh) 22," said Head of the Riau Islands Special Customs and Excise Office, Akhmad Rofiq, as quoted by Antara, Thursday, March 31.

Rofiq explained that the arrest began with information regarding the illegal entry of MMEA by sea. The units on patrol were then on standby to make observations. To increase accuracy, observations from patrol boats also use radar.

Furthermore, he said, the unit on duty around Bintan Island managed to detect the movement of the ship with the characteristics according to the information received Friday (25/3), at 02.30 a.m.

Assisted by other patrol units, the ship was successfully chased and docked so the team could carry out inspections on board.

The pursuit was hampered, because the smuggler's ship deactivated the Automatic Identification System (AIS) when entering the waters of the Indonesian customs area. This mode is quite commonly used by smuggling vessels, with the aim of deceiving Customs Patrol officers.

Based on the results of the inspection, officers found a number of illegal MMEA which were loaded in cardboard wrapped with black plastic.

The evidence in the form of a ship named KM Rezeki Baru and alcoholic beverages along with seven crew members were brought to the Riau Islands Special Customs Regional Office to be processed according to existing regulations.

"Based on the results of the enumeration, as many as 11.655 bottles of illegal MMEA of various brands were packaged in 1.173 cartons," he explained.

Customs and Excise named one suspect with the initials SMR as the captain. SMR is suspected of violating Article 102 letter a of the Customs Law and/or Article 54 of the Excise Law with a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of IDR 5 billion.

"Customs is committed to protecting the territory of the Republic of Indonesia from the entry of illegal goods. As is known, the circulation of alcoholic beverage commodities in Indonesia is regulated by several provisions, one of which requires Customs and Excise to collect state revenue in the form of excise," he emphasized.