DJBC Performance Improvement Recognised by Prabowo, Purbaya Cancels Customs Dissolution

Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has confirmed that the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) will be retained and not disbanded, following an earlier ultimatum issued to the authority. Purbaya stated that President Prabowo himself has acknowledged seeing improvements at DJBC, and therefore the directorate general must further enhance its performance. “Mr Prabowo has seen significant improvements at Customs and Excise. So, whereas he previously said to dissolve it, he recently said in a cabinet meeting that Customs and Excise can be fixed and must be fixed,” Purbaya said during a press conference for the APBN KITA in Jakarta, Tuesday, 21 July 2026. “That is a clear signal that there has been positive development at Customs and Excise, acknowledged by our leader. So, the likelihood is that Customs and Excise will continue to exist.” Purbaya said the performance improvement was the result of a leadership reshuffle, noting that the current leadership level is now filled by capable individuals. This is claimed to have boosted customs and excise revenue by around 7 per cent, while also reducing the circulation of smuggled goods in the market. “Customs and Excise is also actively making arrests, especially against the circulation of illegal cigarettes, which is now very frequent,” he said. In January 2026, Purbaya had stated that he would carry out a major overhaul of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) as an effort to close loopholes in state revenue collection. “Soon I will shake up Customs and Excise and Tax. We must do a better job in tax collection,” Purbaya said in Jakarta, Tuesday, 27 January 2026. He admitted that he had actually wanted to carry out the major overhaul since the previous year. However, this could not be implemented because he had only been appointed as Finance Minister in September 2025. “Last year I only came in September; if I had shaken things up that month, it would have been chaotic because we were in the final stages of tax collection,” he said. “But I am confident that with improvements in the tax and customs personnel, our tax ratio will increase significantly going forward,” Purbaya concluded.