KPK probes role of machine-made and hand-rolled cigarette companies in Customs case

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is examining the role of machine-made and hand-rolled cigarette companies in a case of alleged corruption within the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (Dirjen Bea dan Cukai) of the Ministry of Finance. ‘Investigators are indeed tracing both, because manual cigarettes that are sold widely are also required to bear duty stamps,’ KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo told journalists in Jakarta on Friday. He made the statement when asked whether KPK suspects only machine-made cigarette companies produced by machines, or also manual-cigarette companies made by hand that are involved in the case. Meanwhile, he said KPK generally suspects the modus operandi of the alleged tax manipulation in the Directorate General of Customs and Excise is applying the excise on manual cigarettes to machine-made cigarettes to lower prices. ‘People may see that the tax is affixed, but after we look more closely, it’s different. The tax that should be on manual cigarettes ends up placed on machine-made cigarettes,’ he explained. On the same day, KPK disclosed that one of those arrested in the OTT was Rizal, head of the Western Sumatra Customs Region. On 5 February 2026, KPK announced that six of the 17 people arrested were subsequently named as suspects in a case of alleged bribery and gratification related to the import of KW goods or counterfeit items within Customs. They are Rizal (RZL) as Director of Enforcement and Investigation at Customs for the period 2024–January 2026, Head of Subdirectorate for Intelligence, Enforcement and Investigation of Customs Sisprian Subiaksono (SIS), and Head of the Intelligence Section of Customs Orlando Hamonangan (ORL). Next, the owner of Blueray Cargo John Field (JF), Head of the Imports Documentation Team of Blueray Cargo Andri (AND), and Blueray Cargo Operations Manager Dedy Kurniawan (DK). On 26 February 2026, KPK announced Budiman Bayu Prasojo (BBP), Head of the Customs Intelligence Section in the Directorate of Enforcement and Investigation, as a new suspect in the case. On 27 February 2026, KPK announced that it was examining alleged corruption in the handling of customs clearance. The inquiry followed the seizure of Rp5.19 billion in five suitcases from a safekeeping home in Ciputat, South Tangerang, Banten, suspected to originate from customs and excise.