Customs And Excise Ensures Service And Supervision Standards For Return Of Hajj Pilgrims

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Ministry of Finance)

The Directorate General of Customs and Excise at the Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu) stated that he would provide optimal service and supervision of passenger luggage, especially in the season of returning pilgrims this year.

Head of the Public Relations Sub-Directorate for Customs and Excise, Encep Dudi Ginanjar, said that his party had appealed to the congregation to comply with PMK-203/PMK.04/2017 rules regarding Export and Import Provisions for Goods Bringed by Passengers and Crews of Transport Facilities.

The rules contain provisions for exports and imports of goods carried by passengers, such as how to bring money abroad, what items can be brought into Indonesia, and the exemption of import duties to a certain extent," he said in a written statement quoted on Friday, July 7.

According to Encep, this provision must be obeyed by the pilgrims, so that there are no obstacles both when they arrive in Saudi Arabia and when they return to Indonesia.

"We carried out customs checks selectively, including for pilgrims. At the time of departure, the Hajj pilgrims' luggage was not carried out by the Customs and Excise officers. The examination was only carried out in the event of suspicion and on the basis of intelligence information regarding prohibited items and restrictions, namely goods that were not allowed to be brought or allowed to be brought but with limited requirements and permits from the relevant agencies," he explained.

Meanwhile, upon arrival, the provisions for pilgrims are enforced as usual international air passengers. He said, at the time of arrival, the goods allowed to be brought were worth a maximum of 500 US dollars.

Meanwhile, the excess of this value will be subject to state levies in the form of import duties and taxes in the context of imports in accordance with the provisions regarding passenger luggage in PMK 203/PMK.04/2017

"Bea Excise is committed to providing optimal service, both at the time of departure and the return of the pilgrims. We also continue to work together with various parties to ensure smooth service and supervision in the field," he said.

Furthermore, Encep stated that the FAQ on the provisions of passengers' personal belongings can be known through the official website of the Ministry of Finance's Customs and Excise. For information, Indonesian pilgrims are gradually repatriated to the country from July 4 to August 3, 2023.