Two Million Illegal Cigarettes Worth IDR 3.28 Billion Destroyed By Customs

Illegal cigarette destruction in Banjarmasin/ Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - The Banjarmasin Customs and Excise Supervision and Service Office (KPPBC), South Kalimantan, confiscated more than two million illegal cigarettes during the period July to August 2024.

"In addition to illegal cigarettes, 499 liters of illegal alcohol were also confiscated," said Head of KPPBC Banjarmasin R. Teddy Laksmana, ANTARA, Monday, September 16.

The total value of the confiscated goods reached Rp3.28 billion with the potential loss of the lost state of Rp2.26 billion.

For the evidence from the prosecution, further processing will be carried out in accordance with statutory provisions until further destruction is carried out.

According to Teddy, illegal cigarettes and alcoholic beverages not only harm the state in terms of tax revenue, but also threaten public health because they do not go through an official surveillance process.

"During the operation, we provide socialization and education to traders, service entrepreneurs entrusted and the community to participate in eradicating the circulation of illegal cigarettes and alcoholic beverages," he said.

Enforcement of illegal cigarettes continues to be carried out both in routine market operations and in special operations by the Customs Office through the Illegal Cigarette Strike Movement.

Each violator is prosecuted based on the legal provisions of Law Number 11 of 1995 concerning Excise as amended by Law Number 39 of 2007, namely the use of fake excise stamps, the use of excise stamps is not in accordance with the designation and is not attached to excise stamps.