Illegal Cigarettes Rife in Batam, DPRD Urges Customs to Dismantle Network

The circulation of illegal cigarettes in Batam City has once again come under scrutiny. One of the most conspicuous brands is Manchester, which is suspected of being widely distributed without excise stamps and is easily found at various points, from small kiosks to distributor networks. This phenomenon raises significant public questions, as the unstamped cigarettes appear to circulate massively and openly without significant obstacles. Batam City DPRD member Rival Pribadi assessed that this condition can no longer be considered a trivial matter. He stated that the distribution of illegal cigarettes has been carried out blatantly and seemingly without fear of enforcement by the authorities. “This is no longer about one or two packs of illegal cigarettes. The distribution is systematic, massive, and open. It is present in almost every area. If this situation is allowed to continue, the public has the right to ask, where is the Customs and Excise supervision?” he said on Sunday (21/6). According to him, the massive distribution of the illegal Manchester brand cigarettes indicates a strong and organised supply chain. He believes that large-scale distribution is difficult to occur without gaps in supervision. He also highlighted Batam’s position as a strategic area with heavy traffic of goods. Therefore, supervision of excisable goods should be a top priority for the Directorate General of Customs and Excise, particularly in the Batam region. “If illegal Manchester cigarettes can enter and spread widely to small stalls, it means there is a serious problem from upstream to downstream. This must be investigated: who the suppliers are, who the distributors are, and what the entry routes are,” he said. He stressed that the circulation of unstamped cigarettes is not merely an administrative violation. This practice also has the potential to cause significant state losses due to the disappearance of revenue from the excise sector. In addition to harming the state, the rampant circulation of illegal cigarettes is also considered to create unfair business competition. Law-abiding legal cigarette traders and distributors are disadvantaged because they must compete with illegal products sold at much cheaper prices. “Business actors who dutifully pay excise are losing out to illegal products sold at much cheaper prices. This damages a healthy business ecosystem,” he added. He urged the Directorate General of Customs and Excise, particularly the relevant agencies in Batam, not to merely conduct temporary raids. He requested that enforcement be directed at uncovering the distribution network and the main actors behind the circulation of these illegal cigarettes. According to Rival, law enforcement must not only target small traders on the ground. Authorities must also trace the parties suspected of being suppliers, distributors, and controllers of the illegal cigarette distribution. If not handled seriously, Rival fears the circulation of illegal cigarettes will become increasingly rampant and difficult to control. “The public wants to see real action, not just ceremonial operations. If you are serious, dismantle it to the root. Who are the big players? That must be revealed. If not, these illegal cigarettes will continue to run wild,” he asserted.