Joint Operation Seizes 80,000 Cigarettes with Counterfeit Excise Stamps in North Sumatra

A joint operation by the Sibolga Customs and Excise Office and Subdenpom I/2-3 Padangsidimpuan has thwarted the distribution of illegal cigarettes in Gunung Tua, North Padang Lawas Regency. The operation, conducted under the ‘ASAP’ initiative, resulted in the seizure of a commercial travel vehicle carrying tens of thousands of cigarettes affixed with counterfeit excise stamps. Head of the Sibolga Customs Office, Indra Isnugrahadi, stated that the operation began on Monday, 22 June 2026, when the ASAP team gathered intelligence indicating the shipment of illegal cigarettes. The perpetrators were found to be using the Trans-Sumatra highway, exploiting public transport in the form of a commercial travel vehicle. Responding swiftly to the information, Sibolga Customs coordinated and strengthened tactical cooperation with Subdenpom I/2-3 Padangsidimpuan personnel. The joint team intensified surveillance along the main route and combed critical points connecting Padangsidimpuan City and North Padang Lawas Regency. In the early hours of Tuesday, 23 June 2026, officers identified and stopped the target vehicle at a travel agency counter in Gunung Tua. A thorough physical inspection of the cargo confirmed that the vehicle was transporting illegal cigarettes of the ‘Mango Top’ brand, all affixed with counterfeit excise stamps. Officers secured a total of 80,000 cigarette sticks. The total value of the seized goods is estimated at Rp 110.4 million, with potential state revenue losses calculated at Rp 59.68 million. The strong synergy between Sibolga Customs and Subdenpom I/2-3 Padangsidimpuan underscores a sustained commitment to eradicating the circulation of illegal cigarettes, protecting state revenue, and creating a fair business climate for compliant industry players.