Customs Chief Expresses Frustration, Directly Points Out 'Havens' for Illegal Imports into Indonesia

The Directorate General of Customs and Excise of the Ministry of Finance (DJBC Kemenkeu) has revealed the reasons behind the persistent cases of illegal goods smuggling entering Indonesia, particularly through key maritime and land routes.

Director General of Customs and Excise, Djaka Budi Utama, stated that the waters of the Malacca Strait and the Kalimantan border are frequently used as entry points for illegal imports because surveillance in these areas is still hampered by limitations in facilities, infrastructure, and the number of border personnel.

“Why does the smuggling of illegal goods never end? This is because the entry points for illegal goods in Indonesia certainly still include many areas that require attention, such as the Malacca Strait waters and the Kalimantan border, due to the limitations of existing facilities and infrastructure,” said Djante during a press conference at the Customs Headquarters on Tuesday (22/09/2026).

In addition, the high demand from domestic consumers is a contributing factor to the ease with which prohibited goods enter Indonesia. Furthermore, the Indonesian market remains highly lucrative for importers of illegal goods.

“The need or desire of the public to use these illegal goods still exists, and is even high; therefore, theoretically, we are playing a game of cat and mouse. As long as there is public demand, it will certainly continue to happen,” Djaka explained.

His office reaffirmed its commitment to continuously improving surveillance to prevent the entry of illegal or restricted goods into Indonesia by maximising existing facilities and infrastructure.

“We are making our maximum effort to carry out prevention, specifically against illegal goods or goods that are restricted from entering Indonesian territory,” said Djaka.

As information, Customs and Excise recently successfully thwarted attempts to smuggle illegal imported goods, including second-hand clothing.

A total of 1,435 bales of second-hand clothing were seized from several locations. Specifically, 430 bales entered through the waters of Gosong Bunga-Bunga, Serdang Berdagai, North Sumatra, with a value reaching IDR 3.4 billion.

Furthermore, 9 containers containing 1,005 bales of second-hand clothing, valued at IDR 8.04 billion, were successfully seized by Customs officers at Tanjung Priok Port, North Jakarta.