Police Anti-Corruption Unit Suspects PT TSL Bribed Customs for Illegal Mobile Phone Imports
The Indonesian National Police are continuing their investigation into the alleged illegal import of mobile phones from China involving PT TSL, with the Anti-Corruption Corps (Kortastipikor) now uncovering suspected bribery of Customs and Excise officials at the Ministry of Finance.
The case is being handled jointly by the Criminal Investigation Department’s (Bareskrim) Directorate of Special Economic Crimes (Dittipideksus) and Kortastipikor. Brigadier General Ade Safri Simanjuntak, Director of Special Economic Crimes at Bareskrim, stated that his team is focusing on the smuggling aspect of the case.
He explained that the Task Force for Law Enforcement on Smuggling Crimes initially discovered the alleged illegal import of mobile phones from China via cargo at Juanda Airport. The investigation subsequently expanded to storage warehouses in Jakarta and eventually to the headquarters of PT TSL in Sidoarjo, East Java, the distributor responsible for the imports.
“The Dittipideksus investigation team is handling the case related to the alleged criminal act of illegal importation or smuggling of these mobile phones from China,” Ade Safri said when contacted on Thursday (25/6/2026).
He noted that Dittipideksus is focusing on violations of the Trade and Customs Laws committed by private parties or importers. Bareskrim has named four suspects in this illegal import case: MT, Director of PT TSL; TW, Director of PT TSI; DCP alias P; and SJ.
Following the uncovering of the smuggling operation, Kortastipikor Polri discovered evidence of bribery facilitating the entry of the illegal goods. Kortastipikor Polri’s Head of Operations, Commissioner Yusuf Afandi, stated that the importers allegedly provided payments to certain customs officials to ensure the smooth passage of the goods.
“This TSL importer was bringing in used mobile phones. To ensure a smooth process, they gave something to the Customs and Excise officers,” Yusuf said.
Police also found manipulation of the Harmonized System (HS) code, where the code declared for the goods did not match the physical items. This is suspected to have been done to pay lower import duties.
“Firstly, the discrepancy between the HS code and the physical goods caused state financial losses. Secondly, the circulation of refurbished or reconditioned mobile phones in the community harms the national economy. The public should be enjoying quality new phones, but instead they are given refurbished ones,” he explained.
Most recently, investigators have searched several locations, including the Customs and Excise Supervision and Service Office (KPPBC) Type Madya Pabean Juanda in Sidoarjo.