Indonesian Navy Thwarts Illegal Cigarette Smuggling in West Nusa Tenggara

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Mataram Naval Base (Lanal) of the Indonesian Navy has thwarted the smuggling of illegal untaxed cigarettes transported by truck at Pelindo Port Dermaga in Lembar Village, Lembar District, West Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara, on Monday 9 March.

In an official press statement received in Jakarta on Tuesday, it was explained that the interception began when naval personnel inspected every vehicle exiting the KMP Jambo XI ferry with a route from Perak Port in Surabaya to Pelindo Lembar Port.

Personnel inspected one truck that appeared suspicious. Upon inspection, personnel discovered stacks of illegal untaxed cigarettes.

“From the initial inspection, a total of 70,956 cigarette sticks of illegal untaxed cigarettes were found packed in approximately 30 sacks,” said First Admiral Tunggul, Head of the Indonesian Navy Information Service (Kadispenal), when confirmed in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Tunggul continued that, based on their estimate, the presence of these illegal cigarettes has the potential to cause state losses estimated at approximately IDR 380 million.

Beyond the stacks of sacks full of cigarettes, officers also detained two people acting as the truck’s driver and assistant driver.

The authorities then handed over all evidence and the two suspects to law enforcement for legal proceedings.

Tunggul emphasised that this interception reinforces the Indonesian Navy’s commitment to protecting Indonesian maritime territories from illegal goods smuggling activities.