Makassar Customs Office Seizes 17.8 Million Illegal Cigarettes

Makassar (ANTARA) - The Makassar Customs Office seized 17.8 million illegal cigarettes and saved a potential state loss of Rp18.18 billion during a supervision operation from January to 20 April 2026 in the working area covering 11 districts/cities in South Sulawesi.

Head of the Makassar Customs Office, Krisna Wardhana, in Makassar on Wednesday, stated that the enforcement is part of efforts to protect state revenues, the legal industry, and society.

“This is not merely enforcement, but an effort to protect the state, the legal industry, and society. We will continue to take action against perpetrators without compromise,” he said.

He explained that during that period, officers uncovered the circulation of illegal cigarettes with a total evidence of 17,896,320 sticks.

Illegal cigarettes still dominated violations with 130 cases. The methods found varied, from covert distribution to sales without excise stamps.

As part of law enforcement, the Makassar Customs Office also applied nine ultimate remedy actions to optimise the recovery of state losses.

Enforcement was also carried out against narcotics, specifically 2.3 kilograms of cannabis worth Rp14.2 million, as well as imported goods or passenger baggage items such as cosmetics, medicines, and cash with a total value of hundreds of millions of rupiah.

During that period, state revenues from law enforcement through the ultimate remedy mechanism were recorded at Rp640.9 million. In addition, administrative sanctions for violations of carrying cash from abroad reached Rp49.1 million.

“We are committed to continuing to tighten supervision throughout the working area, especially the circulation of illegal cigarettes which remains the main focus. An educational approach to the public and business actors is also being enhanced to suppress the circulation of such illegal goods,” he emphasised.