Finance Minister Purbaya Suspects Illegal Used Clothing Imports Originate from Developing Countries
The Directorate General of Customs and Excise at the Ministry of Finance has uncovered two cases of alleged illegal circulation of imported used clothing, known locally as ‘balepres’, in Jakarta and West Kalimantan. The first operation was conducted at Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta, targeting 43 containers suspected of transporting imported used clothing. The second operation took place at two warehouse locations in West Kalimantan, suspected of being large-scale stockpiling sites for balepres.
Director General of Customs and Excise Djaka Budhi Utama stated the goods could originate from various countries and enter through Indonesia’s borders. “These used goods definitely entered via Kalimantan. Looking at the entry route through Kalimantan, they are likely collected at the border and gradually brought into Indonesian territory,” Djaka said during a press conference at Tanjung Priok Port on Tuesday (23/6/2026). “The entry point at the border is certainly a neighbouring country. The origin of these goods could be from anywhere, whether Korea, China, or elsewhere,” he continued.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, who was also present, suggested that based on the poor quality of the used clothing, the items might originate from developing countries, without specifying a particular nation. “If you look at the goods, they are of poor quality, not as good as what we used to see. The source might be from a country not far from us, a developing or less advanced country,” he remarked.
The operation against 43 containers of balepres at Tanjung Priok involved the vessel KM Eden Mas, which travelled from Dwikora Port in Pontianak to Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta. The case came to light following intelligence received by Customs on Wednesday. Further investigation revealed the ship was carrying a total of 268 containers, consisting of 222 empty containers and 46 loaded containers declared as containing noodles, general cargo, and household removals. Scanning results indicated that 43 containers had images similar to goods from previous balepres seizures conducted by Tanjung Priok Customs.
As of Monday (22/6/2026) at 17:00 WIB, physical inspection had been completed on 19 of the 43 containers. Officers discovered 2,067 bales containing various types of used clothing, accessories, and bags. The remaining 24 containers are still undergoing detailed examination. Based on initial estimates, the total number of goods in the 43 containers is expected to reach 4,687 bales, with an average of 109 bales per container. With an estimated economic value of Rp 8 million per bale, the total value of the goods is projected at Rp 37.496 billion.
Meanwhile, from the operations in two locations in Kubu Raya and Mempawah, West Kalimantan, the joint team secured 1,796 bales of illegal used clothing. In total, the two West Kalimantan operations resulted in the seizure of 2,060 bales of illegal used clothing. With an estimated economic value of Rp 8 million per bale, the total value of the goods is estimated at Rp 16.48 billion.