Banyuwangi Customs Seizes 6.5 Million Illegal Cigarette Sticks

Banyuwangi, East Java — The Banyuwangi Customs and Excise Office in early 2026 has successfully uncovered the circulation of illegal or untaxed cigarettes totalling 6,585,560 sticks being transported using three trucks.

Latif Fahmi, Head of the Banyuwangi Customs and Excise Office, stated that besides confiscating more than 6.5 million untaxed cigarettes and three trucks, the authorities also apprehended four individuals with initials ES (38), M (41), DAM (30), and M (41).

“According to statements from the four apprehended individuals, the untaxed cigarettes were planned to be distributed across the Banyuwangi and Bali regions,” he said during a press conference at the Banyuwangi State Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday.

Latif recounted that on 15 January, joint officers from the Banyuwangi Customs and Excise Office and the local Naval Military Police received information regarding illegal cigarette shipments passing through the Situbondo-Banyuwangi route.

Subsequently, joint officers inspected the cargo of three trucks suspected of carrying dutiable goods in the form of cigarettes without excise stamps.

Based on examination of the four suspects, Latif continued, the illegal cigarettes originated from a man with initials H based in Madura, with recipients being individuals with initials I and A located in Bali.

“The 6,585,560 illegal cigarettes have a value of approximately 10 billion rupiah and represent potential state financial losses exceeding 5 billion rupiah,” Latif said.

The four suspects are alleged to have violated Article 54 of Law Number 11 of 1995 concerning Excise Duty as amended by Law Number 39 of 2007.

“This enforcement success is the result of synergy and collaboration between the Banyuwangi Customs and Excise Office with the Banyuwangi Regional Police, Banyuwangi District Prosecutor, Banyuwangi Naval Base and other law enforcement officers,” said Latif.