Customs Seizes 2,678 Pokémon Cards Worth IDR 1.2 Billion at Soekarno-Hatta Airport
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Directorate General of Customs and Excise, through the Main Service Office of Customs and Excise Type C Soekarno Hatta, has uncovered a case involving the smuggling of thousands of Pokémon cards, also known as Trading Card Games (TCG), by a passenger on an international flight from Manila to Jakarta.
The items were discovered at Terminal 3 of the International Arrivals area of Soekarno-Hatta Airport.
The Head of the Main Service Office of Customs and Excise Type C Soekarno Hatta, Hengky Tomuan Parlindungan Aritonang, stated that officers carried out two enforcement actions on Friday (May 15, 2026).
Officers found a total of 2,678 Pokémon cards, consisting of 87 PSA Grade cards and 2,591 Non-PSA Grade cards.
“The total value of the seized goods reaches IDR 1,207,986,566,” Hengky told Kompas.com on Friday (May 15, 2026).
Hengky explained that the discovery of this case began with increased attention and profiling of passengers on flight PR535 from Manila to Jakarta.
Customs officers then monitored the passenger from disembarking the aircraft until the inspection of their baggage in the international arrivals area.
“From the results of the X-Ray inspection and physical inspection at the red lane, officers found thousands of high-value Pokémon cards stored in cabin luggage and checked baggage without being reported to Customs officers,” he said.
The first enforcement action found 1,310 Pokémon cards. The value of these items reached IDR 741.5 million, with a potential state revenue of IDR 204.6 million.
The second enforcement action found 1,368 Pokémon cards. The total value of the items reached IDR 466.3 million, with a potential state revenue of IDR 128.7 million.
Therefore, collectible items such as trading cards must still be declared when brought from abroad and exceed the limits of duty-free allowances for passenger baggage.
Hengky explained that all passenger baggage from abroad remains under the supervision of Customs. This provision also applies to collectible items such as Pokémon Cards.