Jember Customs foiled the shipment of more than 1.3 million illegal\ncigarettes disguised as e-commerce shopping parcels. The cigarettes,\nwhich lacked excise stamps, were found in two operations in Jember and\nBondowoso regencies, East Java, with potential state revenue losses\ntotalling Rp1.31 billion.<\/p>\n
The case came to light after officers acted at a courier warehouse in\nRambipuji district, Jember regency, on Tuesday (15 September 2026). They\nfound hundreds of parcels containing illegal cigarettes that were due to\nbe sent outside Java.<\/p>\n
During the operation, officers seized a pick-up truck and detained\nits driver, identified by the initials MSN, and an assistant, identified\nas MF. An inspection of the vehicle and parcels uncovered 334 packages\ncontaining 487,520 machine-made kretek cigarettes (SKM) and machine-made\nwhite cigarettes (SPM).<\/p>\n
The goods seized in the first operation were estimated to be worth\nRp727.3 million. The potential loss to state revenue from the\ncirculation of cigarettes without excise stamps was Rp474.3 million.<\/p>\n
The suspects are believed to have used e-commerce delivery services\nto disguise the distribution of illegal cigarettes. The method was\nintended to evade monitoring by officers both at the point of origin and\nat the destination.<\/p>\n
Further investigation led Jember Customs officers to a courier\nwarehouse in Nangkaan sub-district, Bondowoso regency, on Monday (5\nOctober 2026). Officers became suspicious of hundreds of\nidentical-looking parcels being unloaded from a lorry.<\/p>\n
After inspecting them with the courier company\u2019s management, officers\nfound 535 packages containing 855,600 cigarettes without excise stamps.\nThe goods seized in the second operation were estimated to be worth\nRp1.28 billion, with potential state revenue losses of Rp837.6\nmillion.<\/p>\n
Across the two operations, officers seized 1,343,120 illegal\ncigarettes in 869 packages. The goods were estimated to be worth Rp2\nbillion in total, while potential state revenue losses amounted to\nRp1.31 billion.<\/p>\n
Jember Customs chief Muhammad Syahirul Alim said all evidence, the\nvehicles used to transport the goods and the people questioned had been\nsecured for legal proceedings. Officers have also escalated the first\ncase to the investigation stage.<\/p>\n
The two people detained during the operation in Jember have been\nnamed suspects. They are suspected of violating Article 54 in\nconjunction with Article 56 of Law No.\u00a039\/2007 on Excise, in conjunction\nwith Law No.\u00a07\/2021 on the Harmonisation of Tax Regulations.<\/p>\n
Syahirul said monitoring of illegal cigarette distribution was\ncontinuing, including through delivery channels that use e-commerce\nservices. The enforcement actions aim to prevent the circulation of\nillegal excisable goods and protect state revenue.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis operation demonstrates Jember Customs\u2019 firm commitment to\ncracking down on illegal cigarette distribution, safeguarding state\nrevenue and protecting the public,\u201d Syahirul said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/customs-uncovers-shipment-of-1-3-million-illegal-cigarettes-disguised-as-e-commerce-parcels-1791453200", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }