2,678 Pokemon Cards Seized by Customs at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Here is Why

A total of 2,67able8 Pokemon cards, or Trading Card Games (TCG), arriving from abroad on the Manila-Jakarta international flight were intercepted on Friday (15/5/2026). The seizure, disclosed by the Directorate General of Customs and Excise through the Soekarno-Hatta Customs Office, involved two separate enforcement actions at International Arrival Terminal 3, Banten.

“The total value of the goods secured reaches Rp1,207,986,566,” stated Hengky, as reported by Kompas.com on Friday (15/5/2026). Based on the assessment of import duties and Import Taxes (PDRI), the state stands to gain potential revenue of Rp333.4 million from these goods.

Hengky explained that the discovery began with profiling and monitoring activities targeting passengers on flight PR535 from Manila to Jakarta. Officers monitored passenger movements from the moment they disembarked until the inspection of luggage in the international arrival area. During X-ray inspections and physical checks in the red lane, officers discovered thousands of high-value Pokemon cards stored in suitcases.

“From the results of the X-ray and physical examinations in the red lane, officers found thousands of high-value Pokemon cards stored in both cabin and checked luggage without being declared to Customs officers,” said Hengky.

In a second enforcement action, 1,368 Pokemon cards were found, with a goods value of approximately Rp466.3 million and potential state revenue of Rp128.7 million. Overall, the seized items consist of 87 PSA Grade cards and 2,591 non-PSA Grade cards. PSA refers to Professional Sports Authenticator, an organisation that provides grading standards to verify the authenticity and quality of collectible cards.

According to Hengky, PSA Grade Pokemon cards hold high economic value because they have undergone certification and quality assessment by an international grading institution. Consequently, collectible items such as Pokemon cards must be declared when brought from abroad if their value exceeds the duty-free allowance for passenger goods.

“All passenger belongings from abroad, including collectibles such as Pokemon cards, remain under the supervision of Customs,” Hengky stated. He explained that the monitoring of high-value collectibles has become a priority because such items are frequently brought into the country without being declared to officials. “This step is taken to protect state revenue while ensuring compliance with applicable customs regulations,” concluded Hengky.