15 Containers of Illegal Rice and Salt from India Thwarted by Customs

The Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) of the Ministry of Finance has taken enforcement action against 15 containers containing illegal rice and salt. The goods were found to have originated from India.

The enforcement action began following an import notification submitted by PT TI, which was strongly suspected of containing discrepancies. The goods in the reported containers were declared as ammonium chloride, with a total weight of 413 tonnes, arriving at Tanjung Perak Port, Surabaya, on 19 August 2026.

“Ammonium chloride from India consisting of 8,250 bags with a total weight of 413,406 kilograms across 15 containers,” stated Rusman Hadi, Head of the East Java I Regional Office of DJBC, during a press conference on Tuesday (23/9/2026).

However, based on intelligence reports, physical inspections, and testing conducted by officers from the East Java I Regional Office of DJBC and Tanjung Perak Customs at the Surabaya Customs Laboratory, the true contents were revealed. The testing results showed 202,450 kg of rice and 211,000 kg of salt, with an estimated total value of Rp7.85 billion.

Consequently, there was a material discrepancy between the goods declaration and the results of the physical and laboratory inspections. The case is currently undergoing further investigation.

Based on further information developed from the enforcement in Tanjung Perak, DJBC also conducted enforcement against a similar shipment suspected of using the same modus operandi in Bogor on 7 September 2026. There were suspected discrepancies in goods imported by PT ILW. The goods from India were declared as salt-chemical used for leather tanning purposes (low grade), weighing 420,000 kg and packed in 15 containers.

Following up on this information, the Directorate of Enforcement and Investigation (P2) of Customs, in synergy with the West Java Regional Office of Customs and Bogor Customs, conducted surveillance during the unloading of the goods. From the physical inspection, officers found 194,900 kg of rice and 225,400 kg of suspected salt, with a total estimated value of approximately Rp8.006 billion.