Madura Tobacco Farmers Issue Tritura in Response to Customs Case, Here is Its Content

JAKARTA – The issue of illegal cigarettes and excise governance is seen as unlikely to be resolved without policy transformation. Madura tobacco farmers are currently pushing the government to take three steps to achieve this.

These three demands are formulated as the Tritura of Madura Tobacco Farmers, conveyed by HRM Khalilur R Abdullah Sahlawiy, a cigarette entrepreneur and owner of Bandar Rokok Nusantara Global Group (Barong Group), commonly known as Gus Lilur. Gus Lilur observes that the current industry conditions show that enforcement alone is insufficient. He believes policy steps are needed that can address the root problems on the ground.

“If it’s only enforcement, this problem won’t be solved. There must be a policy solution that opens the way for small business actors and tobacco farmers,” said Gus Lilur in his statement on Thursday (16/4/2026).

The content of the Tritura, in the first point, is the transition of illegal cigarettes to legal ones. Gus Lilur emphasises that the issue of illegal cigarettes must be resolved through a transformative approach. He invites cigarette entrepreneurs who have been operating illegally to switch to becoming legal business actors.

Gus Lilur believes many small-scale business actors are in a difficult position due to limited access to enter the legal system, both in terms of costs and procedures. “This is not just about enforcement, but also about change. Illegal cigarette entrepreneurs must dare to switch to legal, and the state must open the way,” said Gus Lilur.

Second, tobacco farmers demand that the Minister of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia immediately realise the people’s cigarette excise. Gus Lilur emphasises that this promise must be fulfilled as a form of the state’s support for small business actors and tobacco farmers.

“We have heard the commitment from the Minister of Finance regarding the people’s cigarette excise. Now is the time to realise it. Don’t delay it,” said Gus Lilur.

Lilur urges that this policy be realised at the latest within the next month because the conditions on the ground are becoming increasingly urgent. Without a fairer and more adaptive excise policy, small business actors will continue to struggle to enter the legal path.

“If this is not issued soon, the illegal cigarette problem will keep recurring. But if the people’s cigarette excise is introduced, this will be a real solution,” said Gus Lilur.