CDs smuggling attempt foiled<\/p>\n
TANGERANG (JP): The customs officers at the Soekarno-Hatta
\nInternational Airport here have foiled at least three compact
\ndisc smuggling attempts to Malaysia and Saudi Arabia since last
\nmonth, an airport official said Monday.<\/p>\n
Heru Santoso, a senior customs officer at the airport, told
\nreporters that his office has collected a total of 16,817 CDs of
\nvarious types such as Audio CDs, Video CDs and CD-ROMs.<\/p>\n
The discoveries of the potential export items, which had no
\nproper documents, have taken place on three different occasions
\nsince Jan. 25, he said.<\/p>\n
\"The suspected smugglers cost the country and the copyright
\nowners some Rp 756 million,\" Heru said, giving no explanation of
\nwhether the customs officers or police had already apprehended
\nany of the would-be senders.<\/p>\n
He also did not say whether they had contacted their
\ncounterparts in the countries of destination, Malaysia and Saudi
\nArabia, for further investigation.<\/p>\n
\"We were able to dig out the attempted smuggling thanks to our
\ntalented officers examining every suspicious item and the
\nshipping documents of the goods,\" he added.<\/p>\n
In many cases, the senders described the items they wanted to
\nsend overseas simply as electronic gadgets or computer devices,
\nHeru said.<\/p>\n
According to Heru, such smuggling has violated the existing
\nlaw on copyrights for which those found guilty could face
\nmaximum imprisonment of seven years and a fine worth Rp 100
\nmillion.<\/p>\n
Jakarta has been dubbed heaven for pirated CD traders and
\nproducers.<\/p>\n
The mushrooming number of street traders can be found easily
\nat many spots in the city's popular shopping areas such as Blok M
\nin South Jakarta and Glodok in West Jakarta.<\/p>\n
At prices averaging between Rp 10,000 and Rp 15,000 each for
\neither audio items, videos or games, the pirated CDs attract not
\nonly local enthusiasts but also foreign visitors, including those
\nfrom Europe, the States and the Middle East.<\/p>\n
As a comparison, the prices of the originals are about Rp
\n50,000 on average.<\/p>\n
The pirated video CDs, for example, are not only pornography
\nand old films. Many newly-released films are also on offer
\nwithout serious action from the local authorities.<\/p>\n
In many local dailies here, the suppliers advertise their
\npirated video CDs at Rp 500,000 per package of 100 CDs for a
\nvariety of films. (41\/bsr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/cds-smuggling-attempt-foiled-1447893297",
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