Customs foil attempt to smuggle in second-hand clothing

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Riau Islands customs officers in Natuna waters on Monday (Jan 4) foiled an attempt to smuggle thousands of bales of second-hand clothing from Malaysia to Flores, East Nusa Tenggara.<br /><br />The customs officers in a patrol boat intercepted two motor boats carrying 2,300 bales of second-hand clothing in Natuna waters on Monday (Jan 4), Evi Suhartantyo, information officer of the customs and excise directorate general, said here on Tuesday.<br /><br />If the smuggling attempt had not been stopped, the state would have lost Rp6 billion in customs duties.<br /><br />Both motor boats were taken to the customs and excise supervisory office in Tanjung Balai Karimun, Riau Islands.<br /><br />On December 2009, the customs and excise office also stopped an attempt to smuggle hundreds of bales of second-hand clothing from Singapore to Batam. The action prevented the loss of Rp800 million to the state. (*)