Belawan Customs Hands Over Illegal Mangrove Charcoal to Ministry of Forestry

Belawan Customs has handed over seized goods in the form of suspected illegal mangrove charcoal to the Sumatra Forestry Law Enforcement Agency, Directorate General of Law Enforcement, Ministry of Forestry. The handover of four containers took place on Saturday, 6 June 2026, with a further container handed over on Monday, 8 June 2026, at the Graha Segara Belawan Integrated Physical Examination Facility. The operation was led by Agus Sujendro, Head of the Belawan Customs Office, and Hari Novianto, Head of the Sumatra Forestry Law Enforcement Agency, following a joint enforcement operation launched earlier in the week. The enforcement action stemmed from suspicions over the legality of goods declared as kachi charcoal, destined for Saudi Arabia, Italy, and South Korea. Based on an intelligence note issued by the Directorate of Enforcement and Investigation of Customs, the initial suspected violation pertained to environmental and forestry crimes. A joint team consisting of Belawan Customs, the Transnational Crime Sub-Directorate, and representatives from the Ministry of Forestry conducted physical examinations of four containers on 5 June 2026 and one container on 8 June 2026. The examination revealed that the exported goods were wood charcoal made from mangrove wood, totalling 6,217 bags within five 40-inch containers. The estimated value of the goods reached 64,883.94 US dollars, equivalent to approximately 1.14 billion Indonesian rupiah. Further investigation found that the exporter did not possess a valid Timber Legality Verification System certificate, as required by Ministerial Regulation. This condition formed the basis for the enforcement action and the re-sealing of all examined containers by Belawan Customs officers. Agus Sujendro stressed that this action reflects Customs’ commitment to comprehensive export compliance, extending beyond customs aspects alone. Hari Novianto welcomed the handover and appreciated the synergy between the two institutions, noting that such cooperation is essential to ensure forestry crimes do not escape through export channels. The subsequent investigation will be conducted by the Ministry of Forestry’s Law Enforcement Directorate General. Belawan Customs continues to conduct development and research into the possibility of similar cases.