Customs Seize 281,000 Illegal Cigarettes Following Pursuit on Pandaan-Malang Toll Road
Malang Customs has thwarted the distribution of 281,000 illegal cigarettes following a pursuit of a passenger vehicle on the Pandaan-Malang toll road on Friday night (8/5/2026). In addition to the illegal cigarettes, Malang Customs also detained the driver and the vehicle for further investigation.
The enforcement action began around 10:30 PM WIB when the Malang Customs team received intelligence regarding the suspected transport of illegal tobacco products entering the Malang region. Following this information, officers immediately conducted land patrols and monitored illegal cigarette distribution routes along the borders of Malang City and Malang Regency.
Based on vehicle profile analysis and field sweeps, the team successfully identified the target vehicle travelling on the Panda019s Pandaan-Malang toll road. Officers pursued the vehicle until it was successfully intercepted at the Lawang Toll Gate, Lawang District, Malang Regency.
The illegal cigarettes featured “Marbol” branded tipping and were packed in 11 cartons, totalling approximately 281,000 sticks. The driver, the vehicle, and all seized goods were taken to the Malang Customs Office for examination and further processing in accordance with applicable regulations.
The estimated value of the seized goods is Rp 417,285,000, while the potential state revenue loss prevented is estimated at Rp 209,626,000.
The Head of Malang Customs, Johan Pandores, emphasised that the circulation of illegal cigarettes not only results in the loss of state revenue from the excise sector but also disrupts a healthy business climate within the tobacco industry.
“The circulation of illegal cigarettes harms the state in terms of excise revenue and impacts the business climate and the sustainability of the law-abiding tobacco industry,” he stated in a briefing on Monday (18/5/2026). Malang Customs reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening supervision and enforcement against the circulation of illegal excisable goods to protect state revenue and ensure fair business competition.