Raids 2 Markets In Aceh, Officers Confiscate 384 Packs Of Illegal Cigarettes Of Various Brands From Wholesale Stores

Officers show evidence of illegal cigarettes (Photo: ANTARA)

ACEH - The Regional Office of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise in Aceh confiscated hundreds of packs of cigarettes that were not subjected to excise duty. The confiscation was carried out during a raid at Keutapang Market and Lambaro Market, Aceh Besar.

Head of Public Relations at the Regional Office of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise of Aceh, Isnu Irwantoro, said the illegal cigarettes were sold in several wholesale shops. The total confiscated by the officers reached 384 packs or the equivalent of 7,680 sticks.

"Thousands of illegal cigarettes were confiscated during the joint market operation of the Regional Office of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise of Aceh with Civil Service Police Unit and Aceh Wilayatul Hisbah as well as the Aceh Province Agriculture and Plantation Service," said Isnu Irwantoro.

Three cigarette brands were seized in the joint market operation.

According to Isnu Irwantoro, the value of illegal cigarettes confiscated reached Rp. 7,795 million with a potential state loss from the taxation sector or cigarette excise of Rp. 3.6 million.

"The market operation was held to suppress the circulation of illegal cigarettes, so that it could increase Aceh's revenue from cigarette excise sharing," said Isnu Irwantoro.

Isnu Irwantoro said that customs together with other relevant agencies continued to try to reduce the volume of illegal cigarettes in Aceh Province. Apart from conducting market operations, the customs team and partners are also intensifying marine patrols to prevent the smuggling of cigarettes that are not subjected to excise duty.

"The customs mission includes protecting the public from illegal goods and optimizing state revenue from the customs and excise sector. Including reducing the national circulation of illegal cigarettes by three percent," said Isnu Irwantoro.