Indonesian Navy Thwarts Smuggling of 6.1 Tonnes of Tin Sand Worth Rp 5.2 Billion
JAKARTA — The smuggling of 122 sacks of illegal tin sand weighing approximately 6.1 tonnes was prevented as the cargo attempted to enter Jakarta through Tanjung Priok Port on Friday, 6 March 2026. The tin sand was being transported by a yellow truck that was parked within a vessel.
Rear Admiral Uki Prasetia, Commander of the Indonesian Navy’s Eastern Regional Command (Koderal III), stated that the operation commenced following intelligence information received on Thursday, 5 March 2026.
On Friday, 6 March 2026 at 05.00 Western Indonesia Time, the KMP Sakura Express, sailing from Pangkal Balam Port in Bangka Belitung with a destination of Jakarta, was observed entering the port’s shipping lane at Tanjung Priok.
“The task force team subsequently grew suspicious of the truck (with registration number BN 8628 PR) that appeared to have overloaded cargo when the vehicle was leaving the vessel,” said Uki during a press conference at Koderal III, Pademangan Barat, Pademangan, North Jakarta, on Monday, 9 March 2026.
The task force team then inspected and secured the vehicle before transporting it to the Navy’s Eastern Regional Command Headquarters (Makodaeral III) from 09.00 to 14.00 Western Indonesia Time.
Upon arrival, officers unloaded the truck’s cargo and discovered the tin sand concealed among piles of discarded cardboard boxes.
“The truck arrived without a driver, with keys still attached underneath the steering wheel. The vehicle initially could not be started, so it had to be pulled out of the ship’s deck using another truck with registration number B 9272 ZQO,” he added.
The senior Naval officer stated that the driver was only aware of cargo consisting of used cardboard boxes and had been instructed to transport the vehicle towards Cengkareng, West Jakarta.
“The modus operandi used involved breaking the operational net and disguising the cargo with discarded cardboard,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the tin sand was arranged amid piles of cardboard to avoid raising the suspicion of port officials.
The unloading operation uncovered 122 sacks of tin sand, with each sack weighing approximately 50 kilogrammes, totalling approximately 6.1 tonnes.
Based on the global price of tin sand for the export market, which reached approximately USD 51,019 per tonne, the estimated state loss is approximately Rp 5.2 billion.
“The Indonesian Navy is committed to eradicating illegal practices at sea, protecting sovereignty, maritime security, and all forms of legal violations,” he asserted.