Aggressive Jewellery Shop Seizures: Purbaya Admits Much of the Merchandise Is 'Half-Stolen'

Jakarta, VIVA – Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has spoken candidly about the reasons behind the Directorate General of Customs and Excise’s (DJBC) recent spate of jewellery shop seizures, including several outlets belonging to Tiffany & Co and Bening Luxury in Pluit, North Jakarta.

The reason, he explained, is that the gold and jewellery shops in question are suspected of failing to fulfil their import duty payment obligations on their merchandise. Purbaya described the goods as ‘Spanyol’ — Indonesian slang meaning ‘separuh nyolong’ or ‘half-stolen’, a colloquial term for smuggled goods.

“A lot of the merchandise is ‘Spanyol’ — half-stolen, or half-smuggled, if you will,” Purbaya said at the Ministry of Finance in Jakarta on Monday, 23 February 2026.

“Some of them have paid zero per cent import duty on their goods, some have paid 50 per cent, others 25 per cent. In any case, Customs and Excise officials will examine it all,” he added.

When asked about the estimated total state revenue losses resulting from these illicit practices by jewellery shops, Purbaya said he did not yet have precise figures as calculations were still under way.

“As for the total losses, I haven’t received the report yet. Going forward, we will certainly review the situation,” Purbaya said.

He stressed that the actions of these jewellery shops amounted to an insult to the government, as they were brazenly selling goods obtained through regulatory violations at exorbitant prices.

Looking ahead, Purbaya pledged to continue pursuing and taking firm action against similar offenders, as well as other types of violations that clearly harm state revenue and finances.

“People on the ground say these individuals have been stealing and then selling the goods right in front of us with impunity. It’s like insulting the government,” Purbaya said.

“Going forward, we will keep pursuing them. We will continue to secure the domestic market from illegal goods,” he added.