Indonesian Customs Seize 181 Illegal Cigarette Trading Cases

Jan.12.2024

Indonesian customs officials successfully seized 181 illegal cigarette trafficking cases, confiscating millions of taxed and machine-made cigarettes.

According to a report from Indonesian media outlet ANTARA on January 11th, the Customs Supervision and Service Office in Central Java province, Indonesia, successfully uncovered 181 cases of illegal cigarette transactions in 2023.

At a press conference on Thursday (January 11), the Director of the Office, Moch Arif Setijo Nugroho, revealed that the Guddus Customs and the Kudus County Government had jointly destroyed an estimated 61.6 million taxed cigarette packs (BKC) worth IDR 7.02 billion (approximately $4.9 million) in 2023. They also confiscated 19.61 million machine-rolled cigarettes (SKM) worth IDR 24.6 billion (approximately $1.75 million). In 181 tax-related cases in 2023, the prosecution offices of Jepara and Kudus district courts have initiated investigations (P21) into 16 tax crime cases, and 18 suspects will face trial. The recovered national revenue amounts to approximately IDR 16.99 billion (around $12.14 million).

In addition, the Guudos customs have been closely collaborating with the Indonesian Attorney General's Office for Law Enforcement and Examination, the Jepara and Guudos district courts, the Bojonegoro customs, and the National Land Agency (BPN) to seize a piece of land and building spanning 850 square meters in the Gribig area of Guudos county, in accordance with Article 59 of the Indonesian Customs Law.

These law enforcement actions have resulted in the seizure of a large quantity of illegal cigarettes, which are currently stockpiled in the warehouse of the Gudus Customs. To deal with this evidence that belongs to the state (BMN) and determine its purpose, the Gudus Customs has collaborated with the local government of the former Karesidenan Pati region. They serve as both the recipient and user of tobacco tax revenue sharing (DBHCHT), and carry out destruction activities.

References:

[1] KPPBC Kudus ungkap 181 kasus rokok ilegal selama 2023

Also Read:

[1] The Challenge of Controlling Illegal Tobacco Distribution in South Sulawesi

#Indonesia #Illegal e-cigarettes #USA

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