JAKARTA - The Malang Intermediate Type Customs and Excise Supervision and Service Office thwarted the circulation of hundreds of thousands of illegal cigarettes with the value of goods reaching Rp1.13 billion in a joint operation.
Head of the Malang Customs Office, Gunawan Tri Wibowo, said that in the joint operation held on Thursday (11/8) and Friday, his party secured 991,220 illegal cigarettes.
"From the results of the two-day joint operation, as many as 49,561 packs or the equivalent of 991,220 illegal cigarettes were secured," said Gunawan, Friday, August 12, as quoted by Antara.
He explained that from the results of the prosecution of hundreds of thousands of illegal cigarettes, the state losses incurred were estimated at Rp594.7 million, with an estimated total value of goods reaching Rp1.13 billion.
The action began when the joint team conducted a ground patrol and received information from the public that there was an illegal shipment of cigarettes using pickup trucks.
Armed with this information, he continued, the Malang Customs intelligence team conducted a search in the Malang Regency area. The joint team later found the reported vehicle passing on Jalan Raya Curungrejo, Kepanjen District, Malang Regency.
"The team showed a warrant to the driver of the vehicle. From the results of the inspection, the team secured hundreds of thousands of illegal cigarettes," he added.
The team also secured approximately 44,196 packs or the equivalent of 883,920 illegal cigarettes of machine-made kretek (SKM) which were not attached with excise stamps. Hundreds of thousands of illegal cigarettes which are evidence are now secured at the Malang Customs Office.
In addition, the Malang Customs and Excise team also examined the drivers of pickup trucks carrying 883,920 illegal cigarettes.
"We brought the driver, means of transport and evidence to the Malang Customs Office for further processing," he said.
In addition, the joint team also conducted an inspection of one of the offices providing goods delivery services in the Sukun District, Malang City. From the results of the inspection, the joint team secured 5,170 packs or 103,400 illegal cigarettes.
"We also conducted a sweep in the Pujon and Ngantang sub-districts, Malang Regency. There were findings of approximately 3,900 illegal cigarettes that were secured," he explained.
In addition to taking action, the joint operation which was held for two days also carried out socialization and appeals to the public, especially to shops found to be selling illegal cigarettes.
"We also carry out socialization to the public, especially to shops that are caught selling cigarettes without having an excise tape attached," he said.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
