Mechanical and Manual Cigarette Firms Named in Customs Corruption Investigation
Jakarta — The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is probing the role of both mechanical- and manual-cigarette companies in a case of alleged corruption within the Directorate General of Customs and Excise, part of the Ministry of Finance.
‘Investigators are tracing both, because manual cigarettes that are sold or distributed widely are also subject to excise stamps,’ KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo told journalists in Jakarta on Friday, 6 March.
Prasetyo said this when asked whether the KPK suspected only mechanical-cigarette manufacturers or those produced by machines, or also manual producers made by hand who were involved in the case.
He added that the KPK generally suspects the modus operandi in the alleged customs duty manipulation is the application of excise to manual cigarettes on mechanical cigarettes to make the price cheaper.
‘People may see that the excise is already attached, but after we look, it turns out differently. The excise that should be on manual cigarettes has been affixed to mechanical cigarettes,’ he explained.
Earlier, on 4 February 2026, the KPK conducted an on-the-spot arrest (OTT) within the Directorate General of Customs and Excise of the Ministry of Finance. On the same date, the KPK announced that one of those arrested in the OTT was Rizal, Head of the Western Sumatra Regional Office of Customs and Excise.
On 5 February 2026, the KPK announced that six of 17 arrested were subsequently named as suspects in a case of alleged bribery and gratification related to the import of KW goods or imitations within Customs and Excise. They were Rizal (RZL), Director of Enforcement and Investigation of Customs and Excise for the period 2024–January 2026; Sisprian Subiaksono (SIS), Head of the Intelligence, Enforcement and Investigation Subdirectorate of Customs and Excise; and Orlando Hamonangan (ORL), Head of the Intelligence Section of Customs and Excise. Next, the owner of Blueray Cargo John Field (JF), Head of Blueray Cargo Import Documentation Team Andri (AND), and Blueray Cargo Operational Manager Dedy Kurniawan (DK).
On 26 February 2026, the KPK announced Budiman Bayu Prasojo (BBP), Head of the Customs Intelligence Section of the Directorate of Enforcement and Investigation, as a new suspect in the case.
On 27 February 2026, the KPK announced it was studying allegations of corruption in the processing of excise duties. The inquiry was prompted particularly after the seizure of Rp5.19 billion in five suitcases from a safe house in Ciputat, South Tangerang, Banten, believed to originate from customs and excise.