Prevented By Officers In Semarang, 1.4 Million Illegal Cigarettes From East Java Failed To Circulate In Sumatra

Semarang Customs shows illegal cigarettes confiscated in Semarang, Monday 7 August. (ANTARA-IC Senjaya)

JATENG - Semarang Customs and Excise thwarted the delivery of 1.4 million illegal cigarettes worth Rp1.7 billion from East Java.

Head of the Customs and Excise Supervision and Service Office of Type Customs A Semarang A, Bier Budy Kismulyanto, said that the plan for illegal cigarettes would be circulated on the island of Sumatra.

"The delivery of this illegal cigarette is Madura-Grobogan-Sumatra network," he said in Semarang, Monday, August 7, which was confiscated by Antara.

Bier explained that the failure was the development of the disclosures carried out in Grobogan Regency at the end of 2022.

"The evidence is that 60 kloss cigarettes of the machine's kretek cigarettes are transported by a truck," he explained.

Bier explained that four people were named as suspects in the delivery of cigarettes without excise stamps that could potentially cost the state around Rp1.2 billion.

In this case, four people were named suspects, each acting as drivers and truck assistants who sent cigarettes, cigarette providers, and people who played a role in regulating the delivery.

He explained that the suspect JND (50), who was the regulator for the delivery of illegal cigarettes, was suspected to be the same person when sending illegal cigarettes to Grobogan at the end of 2022.

For their actions, he said, the defendants were charged with Law Number 39 of 2007 concerning Excise.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Semarang City District Attorney's Office, Agung Mardiwibowo, added that the trend of illegal cigarette trafficking has recently increased.

From 2022 to August 2023, he said, there have been 10 customs cases related to the circulation of illegal cigarettes whose prosecutions have been transferred to the Semarang City Prosecutor's Office.