Illegal Cigarettes Worth Rp 2.3 Billion Smuggled via Semarang Toll Road, Crane Truck Intercepted by Officers

The Regional Office of Customs and Excise for Central Java and DI Yogyakarta has thwarted the distribution of 1.6 million sticks of illegal cigarettes of various brands without excise stamps. The enforcement action, carried out by the Excise Task Force, took place on the Semarang-Surakarta toll road in Semarang Regency, Central Java, on Wednesday (23/09/202<0xE2><0x80><0x89>6).

The operation was conducted at approximately 18:00 WIB at Km 430 of the Semarang-Surakarta toll road. Officers intercepted and inspected a transport vehicle, a white Isuzu crane truck. Upon inspection, the team discovered 400 bales containing various brands of cigarettes without excise stamps, totalling 1.6 million sticks. The estimated value of the seized goods is Rp 2.376 billion, while the potential excise revenue saved is approximately Rp 1.193 billion.

Officers have seized both the goods and the transport vehicle. Meanwhile, the truck driver, identified by the initial N, has been taken to the Regional Office of Customs and Excise for Central Java and DI Yogyakarta for further investigation.

The Head of the Regional Office of Customs and Excise for Central Java and DI Yogyakarta, Agus Yulianto, emphasised that this enforcement is part of their ongoing efforts to monitor the distribution of excisable goods that do not comply with excise regulations.

“Our supervision is conducted to ensure compliance with laws and regulations, while simultaneously protecting the public and state revenue from the circulation of illegal cigarettes,” he stated.