Govt urged to eradicate smuggling

JAMBI: Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Jacob Nuwa Wea called on the government to seriously curb the rampant smuggling of basic commodities and luxury products to and from Sumatra because such activities had caused losses, not only to the government but also to workers.

Speaking to hundreds of investors and workers here on Saturday, the minister said Sumatra had been a target of certain foreign countries marketing their products via smuggling.

"Tanjungbalai and Belawan in North Sumatra, Sabang in Aceh, Dumai in Riau and Kuala Tungkal in Jambi have become gates for illegal products smuggled to Sumatra by black market agents," he said.

The rampant smuggling of basic commodities has affected hundreds of manufacturers in Sumatra because their products are no longer able to compete with smuggled products and this, in turn, has forced them to close down and dismiss their employees. -- JP