Pokémon Card Inspection at Soekarno-Hatta Airport Causes a Stir: Customs Explains

The Directorate General of Customs has issued an explanation regarding the viral social media posts concerning an incident where a woman with the initials JES was seen crying after being inspected by customs officials at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport due to carrying a large number of Pokémon cards from abroad.

In its official statement on Sunday, May 17, 2026, Customs explained that on May 13, 2026, customs officers at Soekarno-Hatta Airport inspected the luggage of a passenger with the initials JES who had arrived from overseas. The inspection was carried out following indications from an X-ray scan which detected a significant number of Pokémon cards in the passenger’s suitcase.

The inspection refers to the provisions in Minister of Finance Regulation (PMK) Number 34 of 2025 concerning Provisions for Export and Import of Goods Carried by Passengers and Crew, which requires passengers to declare goods to customs officials for fulfillment of customs obligations.

“According to applicable regulations, each passenger is entitled to a duty-free allowance for personal items worth USD 500 per person. However, this facility does not apply if the goods brought are indicated as commercial goods,” Customs wrote in a post on its official social media account @beacukairi, Sunday, May 17, 2026.

Based on the X-ray scan and risk management system, officers found indications that the passenger with the initials JES was involved in providing consignment services (jastip) for the goods she was carrying. This indication was strengthened by the frequency of her overseas trips within a short period and monitoring of her social media account, which showed offers of foreign shopping items.

“The in-depth inspection revealed that the passenger, JES, was carrying a significant number of Pokémon cards,” it stated.

The customs officers are required to protect state revenues through the collection sector, so they confirmed and verified with passenger JES regarding the goods she was carrying to prove their purchase and use. “It should be noted that one piece of a Pokémon card can be valued from IDR 100 thousand to IDR 100 million, even some reach IDR 1.5 billion,” said Customs.

During the confirmation process, JES stated that the items were gifts (souvenirs) and not for resale. JES also provided proof of purchase (invoice).