Kendari Customs Foils Illegal Cigarette and Alcohol Smuggling via Courier Services

Kendari Customs and Excise Office has thwarted the circulation of illegal excisable goods through courier services during a surveillance operation conducted on 22-25 July 2026 in Kendari City. Officers seized 44,000 cigarettes and 28.6 litres of beverages containing ethyl alcohol without excise bands, with an estimated goods value of Rp 67.07 million. Head of the Kendari Customs and Excise Office, Taufik Sapto Harsono, stated that the operation was part of surveillance activities carried out by the Anoa Team of Kendari Customs to suppress the circulation of illegal excisable goods. “This enforcement action also has the potential to save state revenue from losses estimated at Rp 45.46 million,” he explained in a statement on Wednesday (29/7/2026). Regarding the chronology, the enforcement began when officers conducted patrols and inspections at one of the courier service companies in Kendari City. From the inspection results, officers found a number of packages containing excisable goods that did not comply with excise regulations. The goods consisted of various brands of tobacco products without excise bands and class C beverages containing ethyl alcohol, specifically Balinese arak, without excise bands. “This finding shows that delivery services are still being used as a distribution channel for illegal excisable goods,” Taufik emphasised. According to him, Customs will continue to enhance the effectiveness of surveillance on various distribution channels that could potentially be used to circulate illegal excisable goods. All goods from the enforcement action have now been taken to the Kendari Customs Office for further examination and investigation. The goods are suspected of violating excise laws and regulations and will be processed in accordance with applicable provisions.