Counterfeit Goods Destroyed in Joint Operation in West Java

According to the Indonesian media outlet "Pikiran Rakyat" on April 29th, the West Java City government, in cooperation with the Bandung Customs, destroyed over 1.32 million illegal cigarettes and 91 liters of Bali wine in the West Java City government square. Symbolically, the illegal tobacco was destroyed by burning, while the Bali wine was poured out from the bottles and discarded.

The goods destroyed this time all came from an enforcement operation in the third quarter of 2023. This is their firm action to continue cutting off the underground crime chain and defend national property.

Deputy Mayor of West Ma Ha, Dicky Saromi, stated in an interview, "The estimated value of these million illegal cigarettes is approximately 1.6 billion rupees, with potential losses to the country estimated at as high as 885 million rupees. For alcohol, the estimated value of the goods is 46 million rupees, and the potential national losses are even greater, as high as 70 million rupees."

Sallumi pointed out that this destruction activity is not simply a law enforcement operation, but rather a warning to those illegal manufacturers and sellers of such products that the country will never allow them to engage in illegal activities at the expense of public health and national property through this "shock" effect.

Furthermore, the government of Ximaha City also hopes to encourage the public to participate in the crackdown on illegal cigarette sales. "There are various ways in which illegal cigarettes are sold and circulated. We place great importance on public reports and have implemented targeted monitoring," said the deputy mayor of Ximaha City. "For any illegal activities, we will enforce strict punishment measures in accordance with the local laws and regulations of Ximaha City."

Budi Santoso, the director of the Bandung customs office, also expressed a similar sentiment at the site of the destroyed goods. He stated that the destruction of the goods was a result of the collaborative efforts of the Bandung customs office, local government officials, police, and fire departments, and serves as a strong indication of their joint efforts to combat illegal goods.