Customs Uncovers Shipment of 1.3 Million Illegal Cigarettes Disguised as E-commerce Parcels
Jember Customs foiled the shipment of more than 1.3 million illegal cigarettes disguised as e-commerce shopping parcels. The cigarettes, which lacked excise stamps, were found in two operations in Jember and Bondowoso regencies, East Java, with potential state revenue losses totalling Rp1.31 billion.
The case came to light after officers acted at a courier warehouse in Rambipuji district, Jember regency, on Tuesday (15 September 2026). They found hundreds of parcels containing illegal cigarettes that were due to be sent outside Java.
During the operation, officers seized a pick-up truck and detained its driver, identified by the initials MSN, and an assistant, identified as MF. An inspection of the vehicle and parcels uncovered 334 packages containing 487,520 machine-made kretek cigarettes (SKM) and machine-made white cigarettes (SPM).
The goods seized in the first operation were estimated to be worth Rp727.3 million. The potential loss to state revenue from the circulation of cigarettes without excise stamps was Rp474.3 million.
The suspects are believed to have used e-commerce delivery services to disguise the distribution of illegal cigarettes. The method was intended to evade monitoring by officers both at the point of origin and at the destination.
Further investigation led Jember Customs officers to a courier warehouse in Nangkaan sub-district, Bondowoso regency, on Monday (5 October 2026). Officers became suspicious of hundreds of identical-looking parcels being unloaded from a lorry.
After inspecting them with the courier company’s management, officers found 535 packages containing 855,600 cigarettes without excise stamps. The goods seized in the second operation were estimated to be worth Rp1.28 billion, with potential state revenue losses of Rp837.6 million.
Across the two operations, officers seized 1,343,120 illegal cigarettes in 869 packages. The goods were estimated to be worth Rp2 billion in total, while potential state revenue losses amounted to Rp1.31 billion.
Jember Customs chief Muhammad Syahirul Alim said all evidence, the vehicles used to transport the goods and the people questioned had been secured for legal proceedings. Officers have also escalated the first case to the investigation stage.
The two people detained during the operation in Jember have been named suspects. They are suspected of violating Article 54 in conjunction with Article 56 of Law No. 39/2007 on Excise, in conjunction with Law No. 7/2021 on the Harmonisation of Tax Regulations.
Syahirul said monitoring of illegal cigarette distribution was continuing, including through delivery channels that use e-commerce services. The enforcement actions aim to prevent the circulation of illegal excisable goods and protect state revenue.
“This operation demonstrates Jember Customs’ firm commitment to cracking down on illegal cigarette distribution, safeguarding state revenue and protecting the public,” Syahirul said.