Bareskrim Reveals Shell Company Scheme Behind Illegal Chinese Handphones
The office of PT TSL, located in Sidoarjo, East Java, was searched by the Satgas Gakkum Lundup of Bareskrim Polri in connection with a case of illegal handphone imports from China. Investigators revealed the tactics employed by PT TSL in handling import documents for handphones.
This disclosure represents Polri’s commitment to supporting President RI Prabowo Subianto’s Asta Cita Programme, particularly the seventh Asta Cita, which focuses on strengthening political, legal, and bureaucratic reforms, as well as eradicating corruption, drugs, gambling, and smuggling. Polri subsequently formed a task force for law enforcement against smuggling crimes that harm state assets, through a directive from the National Police Chief.
“Investigators believe that PT TSL is a holding company that uses several shell companies to manage documents for illegal handphone imports,” stated Brigadier General Ade Safri Simanjuntak, Director of Special Economic Crimes at Bareskrim Polri, in his statement on Tuesday (21/4/2026).
Before searching PT TSL, Bareskrim first raided warehouses related to illegal handphone imports last week. These warehouses are located on Jl Kapuk Kayu Besar, North Jakarta; shophouses on Jalan Pluit Barat, North Jakarta; Mutiara Palem shophouses, West Jakarta; Citra Garden Housing Cluster Green Papyrus shophouse on Boulevard Raya, West Jakarta; and Toho shophouse, North Jakarta.
From the searches, Bareskrim seized various brands of handphones, including iPhones.
“Seized: iPhones: 56,557 units (total value Rp 225,208,000,000), Android 1,625 units (total value Rp 5,387,500,000), and handphone spare parts (batteries, chargers, cables, etc.) 18,574 units. Total 76,756 units with a total value of Rp 235,089,800,000,” he explained.
From witness examinations and shipment document reviews, investigators designated two suspects with initials DCP and SJ.
The two suspects have different roles. DCP acted as the importer bringing goods into Indonesia in a non-new condition and without SNI certification.
“SJ acted as the customer bringing goods into Indonesia in a non-new condition,” Ade said.
He stated that the Gakkum Task Force of Satgas Lundup Bareskrim Polri, formed by National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, will continue to conduct sweeps at all entry points for goods across Indonesian customs areas, whether by sea, land, or air, to ensure and guarantee no further state financial leaks from import practices involving under-invoicing, undeclared goods, or under-accounting.
“Polri’s commitment to strict law enforcement against all forms of smuggling crimes to save state assets or recover state financial losses and prevent leaks in state revenue is a tangible manifestation of Polri’s commitment to protecting state/natural resources, securing state revenue sources, and impartial law enforcement to support national economic resilience, which is the foundation of state sovereignty,” Ade added.