Blitar Customs Uncovers Smuggling of 368,000 Illegal Cigarette Sticks in ALS Bus

Blitar Customs has dismantled a smuggling operation of cigarettes without excise stamps transported using an ALS bus in Blitar City on Monday (27/4/2026). From this enforcement, Blitar Customs secured 368,000 illegal cigarette sticks worth Rp546,480,000, with potential state losses reaching Rp274,528,000.

The Head of Blitar Customs, Nurtjahjo Budidananto, revealed that Customs secured 48,000 sticks of the Marbol brand and 320,000 sticks of Milan Jaya 20 Bold. Both are machine-rolled clove cigarettes (SKM) and lack the excise stamps required by law. Blitar Customs officers also detained the bus driver with initials MSN as a suspect.

“The enforcement began when officers conducted routine land patrols in the Blitar City and Regency areas. Officers suspected the ALS bus with licence plate BK 7479 LD (Hull 370) carrying unusual cargo, then followed it until it arrived at the official agent of PT ALS on Kenari Street, Blitar City,” he said.

From the inspection at the location, officers found 23 cartons of various cigarette brands without excise stamps inside the bus. Currently, all evidence has been secured at the Blitar Customs Office. This case is charged under Article 54 in conjunction with Article 56 of the Excise Law in conjunction with Law Number 7 of 2021 on Harmonisation of Tax Regulations (HPP), and is currently under further investigation.

Nurtjahjo emphasised that this enforcement is proof of his team’s commitment to maintaining state revenue and protecting the legal cigarette industry from unfair competition. “This enforcement is the result of the vigilance and hard work of our field officers. Cigarettes without excise stamps not only harm the state but also damage the healthy business climate for compliant industry players. We will not stop and will continue to increase the intensity of supervision throughout our working area,” he said.