Customs and Excise Foils Circulation of 1.2 Billion Illegal Cigarettes as of July 2026

Director General of Customs and Excise Djaka Budi Utama has announced that his agency has foiled the circulation of 1.2 billion illegal cigarettes up to 31 July 2026.

The figure represents a 100 percent increase from the same period last year. Customs and Excise recorded 600 million sticks seized in the first half of 2025.

“The total number of enforcement actions carried out by Customs and Excise to date has reached 1.2 billion sticks as of 31 July. The data held by Customs and Excise shows approximately 1.2 billion sticks,” Djaka said at a press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday.

He assessed that the enforcement achievement reflects the commitment and integrity of Customs and Excise personnel in combating the circulation of illegal cigarettes.

“That means almost 100 percent of last year’s figure. Last year, in one semester, we only reached approximately 600 million sticks. But now we have managed to reach 1.2 billion sticks. This demonstrates the integrity of Customs and Excise employees who tirelessly carry out enforcement against illegal cigarettes,” Djaka said.

In the latest operation, Customs and Excise successfully foiled the shipment of 8.96 million illegal cigarettes that were not affixed with excise stamps.

The enforcement action was carried out on two containers during inter-regional and inter-island goods traffic monitoring at Tanjung Priok Port.

The estimated value of the illegal goods reached Rp13.30 billion, with potential state losses of Rp8.66 billion. That figure comprises potential excise revenue of Rp6.68 billion, cigarette tax of Rp668 million, and value-added tax on tobacco products of Rp1.31 billion.