{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1820835,
        "msgid": "customs-and-west-java-government-destroy-44-million-illegal-cigarettes-worth-rp-65-billion-1782285611",
        "date": "2026-06-24 13:26:43",
        "title": "Customs and West Java Government Destroy 44 Million Illegal Cigarettes Worth Rp 65 Billion",
        "author": "Dwi Murdaningsih",
        "source": "REPUBLIKA",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Legal",
        "summary": "The Directorate General of Customs and Excise (Bea Cukai) in West Java, together with the provincial government, destroyed over 44 million illegal cigarettes seized between July 2025 and May 2026. The destroyed goods were valued at Rp 65.18 billion, with potential state losses of Rp 32.95 billion prevented. The public destruction in Garut underscores the government's commitment to transparency and combating the illicit tobacco trade.",
        "content": "<p>The West Java Regional Office of the Directorate General of Customs\nand Excise (Bea Cukai), in collaboration with the West Java Provincial\nGovernment, has destroyed 44,028,306 illegal cigarettes. These items,\nclassified as State-Owned Goods (BMMN), were the result of enforcement\nactions. The total value of the destroyed goods amounted to Rp\n65,181,393,510, with potential state losses amounting to Rp\n32,952,835,832 successfully safeguarded. The illegal cigarettes were\nseized during operations conducted from July 2025 to May 2026, carried\nout both independently by Customs and through synergistic efforts\nutilising the Tobacco Products Excise Revenue Sharing Fund (DBH CHT) for\nlaw enforcement. The symbolic destruction ceremony was held at the Garut\nRegency Square, after which the goods were transported to PT Mukti\nMandiri Lestari (Plan Sadang) in Ciwangi, Bungursari, Purwakarta\nRegency, to be completely destroyed by crushing, damaging, and burning\nuntil they could no longer be used. During the period from 1 January to\n31 May 2026, the West Java Customs Regional Office and its subordinate\nvertical units successfully carried out 1,594 enforcement actions,\nresulting in the seizure of 49.05 million illegal cigarettes with an\nestimated value of Rp 72.93 billion. In the same period, one\ninvestigation into criminal excise violations was completed and handed\nover to the prosecutor\u2019s office. Additionally, the office resolved 28\ncases using the ultimum remedium (UR) principle, generating state\nrevenue of Rp 1.1 billion. The ultimum remedium principle dictates that\ncriminal sanctions should be a last resort in law enforcement, including\nexcise matters, applied only when administrative sanctions such as fines\ncannot resolve the violation. Director General of Customs and Excise,\nLieutenant General (Ret.) Djaka Budhi Utama, stressed that eradicating\nillegal cigarettes is not solely the duty of authorities but requires\nthe participation of the entire community. He urged the public not to\nbuy, sell, or distribute illegal cigarettes and to promptly report any\nsuspected excise violations. \u201cPrevention through raising public\nawareness will always be a better step than enforcement,\u201d he stated.\nCustoms continues to take firm, uncompromising action against violators\nthrough optimal supervision. The public destruction, which can be\nwitnessed directly or online, serves as a form of transparency in the\nfight against illegal cigarettes. Appreciation was also extended to all\ninvolved parties, including other law enforcement agencies, ministries,\nlocal governments, and the community, for their active and collaborative\nsupport in fostering a legal industry that supports national economic\ngrowth.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/customs-and-west-java-government-destroy-44-million-illegal-cigarettes-worth-rp-65-billion-1782285611",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}