Makassar Poltabes Thwarts Circulation Of Hundreds Of Illegal Imports From China

The Makassar Police Samapta Unit, South Sulawesi, has succeeded in uncovering cases of smuggling and circulation of liquor (alcohol) and illegal imported cigarettes from China that are about to be brought in a pickup truck with the aim of going to Marowali Regency, Central Sulawesi Province.

"The team has uncovered cases of illegal imported liquor and illegal cigarettes without excise duty. Namely 132 boxes of alcoholic beverages are suspected to be from China. And 23 boxes of double-happines cigarettes without excise, and one pick-up car," said Makassar Police Chief Kombes Pol. Mokhamad Ngajib quoted by ANTARA, Friday, June 2.

The arrest of the illegal goods was on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at 23.00 WITA on Jalan Perintis Kemerdekaan. The goods were transported by a pickup truck to Marowali, Central Sulawesi. The police chief said that there were two suspects in this case who should be suspected of being the perpetrators who served as couriers with the initials O and J.

"From the results of the examination that this process has been going on for approximately five months. And for those concerned, we apply Article 142 in conjunction with Article 91 of Law Number 18 of 2012 concerning Food. Article 106 in conjunction with Article 25 of Law Number 7 of 2014, and Article 99 in conjunction with market 114 of Law Number 36 of 2009 concerning Health," said the Police Chief.

Meanwhile, the two perpetrators played a role in carrying and transporting the illegal goods to Morowali, allegedly to be sold to workers from China at the local mine site.

"Currently we are still developing, especially to the owner of the goods. We should suspect, because this is illegal goods, smuggled goods. We are currently developing this," said the former Palembang City Police Chief.

He explained that his party was investigating where the items were smuggled, by whom, so further development was needed. Of the total amount of bottles of alcohol confiscated, a thousand bottles with an alcohol content are estimated at 56 percent.

"From the results of the investigation as well, this liquor circulates in Makassar City and this is of course still in the development process how much has been taken and distributed in Makassar City," he explained.

When asked where the goods came from, whether by sea or land until they arrived in Makassar, he said, it was still in the process of developing the police.

Regarding the supervision from the Customs and Excise regarding illegal goods, they can escape and can be circulated in Makassar until they are brought to Marowali, considering that it has been five months since the delivery process has been free for the perpetrators, said the Police Chief, his party immediately built communication with related parties where this goods came from.