Government Seizes 43 Containers of Smuggled Used Clothing
The government, via the Ministry of Finance and the Directorate General of Customs and Excise, has secured 4erm 43 containers suspected of containing smuggled second-hand clothing (balpres).
Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, during a press conference at the CDC TPS Buffer Area, Tanjung Priok, Jakarta, on Tuesday, stated that the smuggling involves two separate cases occurring in Jakarta and South Kalimantan.
“As of 22 June 2026, inspections of 19 containers revealed 2,067 bales containing clothing, clothing accessories, and second-hand bags. The total cargo in the 43 containers is estimated to reach 4,687 bales, with an economic value of approximately Rp37.5 billion,” said Purbaya.
According to Purbaya, the enforcement action at Tanjung Priok Port began following intelligence reports regarding the suspected shipment of bales using the KM Eden Mas on the Pontianak-Tanjung Priok route. Out of the 268 containers carried by the vessel, 46 loaded containers were scanned by the Customs Directorate of P2 and Tanjung Priok Customs.
Subsequently, information from the enforcement in Tanjung Priok was followed up with further investigations by the Customs Directorate of P2 and the West Kalimantan Regional Customs Office. During operations conducted between 19–21 June 2026 at two warehouse locations in Kubu Raya and Mempawah Regencies, West Kalimantan, a joint team intercepted and secured 2,060 bales of illegal second-hand clothing valued at Rp16.48 billion.
Purbaya stated that law enforcement does not stop at the seizure of goods. Customs continues to conduct deep investigations to identify the parties responsible for the entry, storage, and distribution of these illegal goods.
The government, he added, will trace the owners of the warehouses used for stockpiling in West Kalimantan, as well as the parties linked to the ownership of the 43 containers in Jakarta.
The Ministry of Finance did not calculate the potential loss in terms of import duties and import-related taxes (PDRI), as second-hand clothing is a prohibited commodity for import under Minister of Trade Regulation Number 47 of 2025. However, the circulation of illegal imported second-hand clothing has the potential to cause various immaterial losses, such as damaging the nation’s image and the spread of diseases from bacteria or viruses attached to the used clothing.
“On the other hand, such practices can also disrupt the sustainability of the national textile industry and reduce the market share for domestically produced clothing products,” he said.
Purbaya ensured that the government will continue to guard the borders, monitor the flow of goods, and enforce the law to protect national interests, domestic industry, and the Indonesian people.