Fugitive in Illegal Phone-Smuggling Case Involving Goods Worth Rp253 Billion Arrested
The National Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) has arrested Tatang Winata (TW), a fugitive in a case involving the smuggling of used mobile phones and baby products from South Korea.
Brigadier General Ade Safri Simanjuntak, director of Bareskrim’s Special Economic Crimes Directorate, said Winata was arrested on Tuesday (6 October) after arriving at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.
“Suspect TW had gone on the run overseas while the investigation into the illegal smuggling of used mobile phones and baby products from South Korea to Indonesia was under way,” he said in a written statement on Thursday (8 October).
He said the arrest followed information from immigration officers about Winata’s flight activity. Ade Safri said Winata was flagged by Indonesia’s immigration system because investigators had previously placed him on a travel ban.
Winata was identified as having arrived from Seoul on Garuda Indonesia flight GA879, in business class, seat 7A, on the Incheon (ICN)-Jakarta (CGK) route. Investigators arrested him at the international arrivals immigration checkpoint in Terminal 3 of Soekarno-Hatta Airport.
“At around 8pm, the investigation team carried out the arrest of Tatang, accompanied by Soekarno-Hatta Airport immigration officers,” he said.
Investigators seized several items from Winata, including a Samsung Galaxy A16 5G, an iPhone 16 Pro, his passport and national identity card, and a GA879 flight ticket bearing his name. He was then taken to Bareskrim’s offices.
“After questioning suspect TW, we detained him at the Bareskrim detention centre,” Ade Safri said.
Ade Safri said the Bareskrim anti-smuggling enforcement task force had named three suspects in the case: DCP, also known as Peter; MT; and TW.
The total value of evidence seized by investigators is estimated at Rp253 billion. It includes around 50,000 iPhone and Android phones and related parts—including spare parts, LCD screens, batteries, engines and other components—valued at about Rp250 billion.
The seized goods also include 256,300 baby products, valued at around Rp3.07 billion.
“The total value of the evidence seized is approximately Rp253,075,600,000,” he said.
He added that case files for the other two suspects, DCP, also known as Peter, and MT, had been declared complete (P21) by prosecutors. Investigators are completing Winata’s case file for submission to the public prosecutor.
Winata is suspected of committing offences in the field of trade and/or other crimes related to illegal imports, under Article 111 in conjunction with Article 47(1) of Law No. 7/2014 on Trade, and Article 20 or Article 21 of Law No. 1/2023 on the Criminal Code.