Bangkalan Kejari Destroys 2.8 Million Illegal Cigarettes

The joint team destroyed illegal cigarettes confiscated by the Prosecutor's Office in the courtyard of the institution's office, Thursday (31/9/2023). (ANTARA/HO-Kejari Bangkalan)

BANGKALAN - Bangkalan District Attorney (Kejari), East Java destroyed 2.8 million illegal cigarettes in the courtyard of the institution's office.

"The cigarettes, which are not equipped with excise stamps, all of which amount to 2,880,000, are evidence of the confiscation of the Bangkalan Kejari from January to August 30, 2023 and have permanent legal force," said the Head of the Bangkalan Kejari, Fahmi, as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, August 31.

The destruction was carried out by dousing water directly led by Kajari Bangkalan Fahmi, Madura Customs officials, representatives of the Bangkalan Police and Regency Government.

"The destruction here is only symbolic and further hoarding will be carried out at the garbage disposal site in Arosbaya," he said.

Kajari explained that the evidence confiscated by officers from the operation to eradicate the circulation of illegal cigarettes carried out by the Prosecutor's Office together with the Madura Customs and Bangkalan Regency Government so far was not only illegal cigarettes, but also trucks that were used as means of transportation.

"However, the truck has been returned to the owner, there is also Rp1.5 billion in confiscated money. If the suspect has been detained, he will be sentenced to one year in prison," he explained.

Apart from cigarettes, the evidence that was also destroyed was drugs and liquor, but Kajari Fahmi did not specify the two types of evidence.

The number of illegal cigarette evidences destroyed by the Bangkalan Kejari this time is more than in 2022. At that time, the total number of illegal cigarettes destroyed was 1.3 million sticks.