Riau Police Confiscate 40 Thousand Packs Of Illegal Cigarettes In Pekanbaru

Ditreskrimsus Polda Riau when disclosing various cases of illegal goods ranging from cigarettes to used clothes and shoes. (ANTARA/Annisa Firdausi)

PeKANBARU - Riau Police secured 50 boxes containing 40 thousand packs of illegal cigarettes of various brands in storage warehouses on Jalan Arjuna, Payung Sekaki District, Pekanbaru.

Direskrimsus Polda Riau Kombes Nasriadi explained that dozens of cigarettes of various brands were secured from the hands of suspect JES (52). The disclosure of this case was carried out on Saturday, December 23, 2023.

"This illegal shop was obtained from various regions from outside Riau Province. The total is around 40 thousand packs of cigarettes," he said, quoted by Antara, Thursday, January 11.

As a result of this case, the state suffered a loss of estimated at Rp. 200 million. JES must be held accountable for his actions and face a sentence of five years in prison or a maximum fine of Rp. 500 million

Tens of thousands of cigarettes do not have a health impact warning that is usually in legal cigarettes circulating. So that it violates Article 437 paragraph (1) in conjunction with Article 150 paragraph (1) of Law Number 17 of 2023 concerning Health in conjunction with the Regulation of the Minister of Health Number 56 of 2017.

"These cigarettes are then marketed to traders in Pekanbaru and its surroundings," continued Kombes Nasriadi.

In addition, Ditreskrimsus also secured a truck containing hundreds of sacks of clothing and used shoes from abroad. The illegal goods were secured by the Riau Police Ditreskrimsus in Perawang, Siak Regency, Thursday (4/1).

These used items came from abroad and entered from an unofficial port in Batam before finally heading to Riau Province.