816,000 Illegal Cigarette Rods Cover By Pupuk Disita In Kudus, Excise Losses Are Estimated At IDR 632.2 Million

Cigarettes resulting from Kudus Customs and Excise Enforcement, Central Java. ANTARA/HO-Humas KPBBC Kds.

KUDUS - A total of 816,000 illegal cigarettes worth Rp930.24 million were confiscated by the Customs and Excise Supervision and Service Office (KPPBC) of the Intermediate Type of Kudus, Central Java. The confiscation was carried out on Jalan Pantura Timur Kudus, Thursday 7 July.

"The distribution of illegal cigarettes is by using trucks that transport fertilizer to trick officers. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of illegal cigarettes are packaged into 53 cartons, a total of 816,000 illegal cigarettes," said Head of KPPBC for the Madya Excise Type Kudus Moh Arif Setijo Nugroho in Kudus, quoted from Antara, Friday, July 8.

Meanwhile, the potential loss to the state that was saved, he said, amounted to Rp. 632.2 million from the excise value that should have been paid.

He revealed that the action began with a patrol on Jalan Raya Pantura Timur Kudus by the Kudus Customs and Excise Team.

From this activity, he continued, the team found indications that a means of transportation were in the form of trucks transporting illegal cigarettes. Then a stop was carried out in front of the Terban gas station, Jekulo District, Kudus.

The results of the officer's examination, he said, found 48 cartons containing black Titan Bold cigarettes of machine kretek cigarettes (SKM) brand Extra Bold and five cartons of black Titan Bold branded cigarettes without excise tape attached.

Based on these findings, all evidence, trucks and two people who were drivers and assistants were taken to the Kudus Customs and Excise Office for further investigation.

He said Kudus Customs and Excise continued to monitor the circulation of illegal cigarettes. Illegal cigarettes found do not meet the provisions in the excise sector, including because they are transported or marketed without excise tape attached.

Violators of illegal cigarettes can be threatened with 1-8 years in prison and a fine of up to 20 times the excise value that should be paid. The state does not prohibit the people from producing cigarettes, as long as it is in accordance with legal regulations.

For obtaining permits, the Basic Number for Excisable Goods Entrepreneurs (NPPBKC) as a stage to produce cigarettes legally can be carried out in Kudus Customs easily and free of charge.